Biotic Interactions between the Gametophytes of Wall Rue (<i>Asplenium ruta-muraria</i>) and Other Fern Species

Hornych, Ondřej; Černochová, Lucie; Košnar, Jiří; Ekrt, Libor

doi:10.1086/716782

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…While local environmental conditions at the site may influence sex expression across all three colonies, the consistency in sex distribution at the single colony scale indicates there were not stark differences in microclimates between them. Finally, additional compounds may be involved in a wide‐array of intra‐ and interspecific interactions between fern gametophytes because some studies have documented allelopathic‐type effects of fern gametophytes on each other even when antheridiogen is absent (Petersen and Fairbrothers, 1980; Testo et al, 2014; Hornych et al, 2022). These interactions often result in severe reductions in growth and cessation of development altogether, preventing even the formation of antheridia, so are not likely the cause of males in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antheridiogen controls spatial dynamics of sex expression in naturally occurring gametophytes of the tree fern Cyathea multiflora

Harrington

Blake‐Mahmud

Watkins

2022

American J of Botany

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Premise: Antheridiogen systems are a set of pheromonal mechanisms that control sex expression in fern gametophytes. However, antheridiogen has rarely been studied outside of the laboratory, and little is known about its function in natural settings. Combining predictions based on field and laboratory study, we tested whether the sexual structure of gametophytic colonies of a tree fern were attributable to antheridiogen. Methods: Gametophytic colonies of the antheridiogen-producing tree fern Cyathea multiflora were collected at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica in January 2019. The sex of each gametophyte was determined, mapped, and spatial statistic approaches were used to examine the distribution of sex in each colony.Results: In all gametophytic colonies, males were most common, representing 62-68% of individuals. No hermaphroditic gametophytes were identified in any colony. A quadrat-based method showed female gametophytes were not clustered in each colony, while male gametophytes were clustered. In two of the colonies, the K(r) test statistic for males was greater than expected compared to random simulations of sex expression, indicating male sex expression was spatially associated with females. Conclusions: This study provides the first documentation of spatial sex expression in natural settings of gametophytes of an antheridiogen-producing tree fern species. The profound impact of antheridiogen on gametophytic sex expression in field settings suggests this system is intimately tied to mating system, fitness, and genetic diversity in Cyathea multiflora.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%