Isolation and Identification of Antheridiogens in the Ferns, Lygodium microphyllum and Lygodium reticulatum

Abstract

Antheridiogens in culture media of 6-week-old prothallia of two species of Schizaeaceous ferns, Lygodium microphyllum and Lygodium reticulatum, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In both species, the gibberellin A₇₃ methyl ester (GA₇₃-Me) was identified as the most abundant antheridiogen, and the methyl esters of GA₉ and of several monohydroxy-GA₇₃ derivatives were also detected. Since both species produced antheridiogens at a high level, they were classified into high-antheridiogen-producing ferns. The response to GA₇₃-Me of gametophytes of both species is also discussed.