ABSTRACT
Characteristics of the fern antheridogen from Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. are investigated. These are: (a) determination of molecular size (it is readily dialyzable), (b) pK(a) (about 5), (c) movement in thin layer chromatography, and (d) ability to induce dark germination of fern spores. These four characteristics are compared to the same characteristics of three other antheridogens (antheridogens A and B or GA). Molecular size and pK(a) are similar, but, the antheridogens are separable from each other using thin layer chromatography. It was also shown that spore germination is not induced by the Ceratopteris antheridogen, even in its own spores, a characteristic not reported as shared by the other antheridogens. However, the inconsistency of spore germination as an assay for antheridogen is demonstrated. The presence of gametophyte-produced allelopathic substances is also shown.
ABSTRACT
The relationship of the antheridogen from Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. (Antheridogen C) to three other known antheridogens, gibberellic acid, and two natural antheridogens, one from Pteridium aquilinum (Antheridogen A) and one from Anemia phyllitidis (Antheridogen B), is investigated. It is shown that each is a biologically distinet entity, interspecific activity being absent. The antheridogen responses of two widely separated sources of C. thalictroides were also compared. The results indicate that both susceptibility and antheridogen production vary between the two sources.
