A soil bacterium alters sex determination and rhizoid development in gametophytes of the fern Ceratopteris richardii.

ABSTRACT: Gametophytes of the fern Ceratopteris richardii develop into either hermaphrodites or males. As hermaphrodites develop, they secrete antheridiogen, or A_CE, into the environment, inducing male development in undifferentiated gametophytes. Hermaphrodites are composed of archegonia, antheridia, rhizoids and a notch meristem, while males consist of antheridia and rhizoids. Much of the research on sexual and morphological development concerns gametophytes grown in sterile environments. Using biochemical and molecular techniques we identify a soil bacterium and explore its effects on sexual and rhizoid development. Hermaphrodite and male gametophytes were exposed to this bacterium and the effects on sexual development, rhizoid length and rhizoid number were explored. The bacter

SUBMITTER: Ganger MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6474741 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature