Abstract

This study concerns the apomictic development of six bryophytes which has been carried out in a series of experiments in vitro under a controlled environment. It revealed that the filamentous gemmae of both Cyathophorella japonica and Trachyloma indicum could produce protonemata and leafy gametophytes in aspeptic cultures, in about 4 weeks. Schistochila formosana, a hepatic, geneally reproducing by spores could also produce filamentous gemmae and from their tapering ends protonema was produced and thenceforth leaf buds. The seta of Trematodon longicollis and Funaria hygrometrica possess a high potential for developing apomictic gametophytes, so do the leaves of Pottia recta and Funaria hygrometrica and the calyptra of Trematodon. Products of these asexual bodies underline the capacity for apomixis, carrying with them their specific characteristics which are not easily changed by environmental factors. Actually no marked difference was found between the apomictic gametophytes as compared with those developed from spores. Leafy gametophytes of Funaria, Trematodon and Pottia were also cultured from spores for the purpose of making comparisons between those produced by apomixis and by the normal method. The apomictic development observed in the above 5 mosses and one hepatic is found to be the first report for these species in science.