The ecology and physiology of fern gametophytes: A methodological synthesis.

ABSTRACT: All green plants alternate between the gametophyte and sporophyte life stages, but only seed-free vascular plants (ferns and lycophytes) have independent, free-living gametophytes. Fern and lycophyte gametophytes are significantly reduced in size and morphological complexity relative to their sporophytic counterparts and have often been overlooked in ecological and physiological studies. Understanding the ecological and physiological factors that directly impact this life stage is of critical importance because the ultimate existence of a sporophyte is dependent upon successful fertilization in the gametophyte generation. Furthermore, previous research has shown that the dual nature of the life cycle and the high dispersibility of spores can result in different geographic patterns between

SUBMITTER: Krieg CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9039797 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature