The role of ethylene in the induction of apogamous buds in Pteridium gametophytes.

The level of induced apogamy in gametophytic colonies of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn is altered by varying the number of colonies per culture vessel or by including a constant number of colonies in culture vessels of different volumes. In either case, placing vials of mercuric perchlorate, an absorber of ethylene, within the closed culture vessels reduced the apogamous response to a very low level. Production of ethylene by the gametophytes was demonstrated by gas chromatography. Ethylene supplied in a continuous-flow system promoted the apogamous response above that of an air control.