IAA-INDUCED APOGAMY IN PLATYCERIUM-CORONARIUM (KOENIG) DESV GAMETOPHYTES CULTURED IN-VITRO

Apogamous sporophytes were produced on Platycerium coronarium gametoph ytes cultured in the presence of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The perce ntage of apogamy as well as the total number of apogamous sporophytes produced per gametophyte clump were highest in the presence of 40 mu M IAA. When ethylene was allowed to accumulate in the culture vessel in the presence of an optimum level of IAA, the percentage and total num ber of apogamous sporophyte production decreased significantly. Using light microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope we have shown that nuclear size can be used as a quick parameter to estimate the plo idy level of P. coronarium.