MORPHOGENETIC STUDIES ON EXCISED LEAVES OF OSMUNDA CINNAMOMEA L.: MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF LEAF DEVELOPMENT IN STERILE NUTRIENT CULTURE

Abstract

The growth and development of certain frond primordia from the apical bud of the fern Osmunda cinnamomea, after explantation to sterile nutrient medium, are described. External morphological changes in developing cultured fronds have been followed carefully from the time of excision to the attainment of maturity and have been compared with corresponding developmental changes in natural fronds. It has been concluded that the morphogenetic pattern in excised fronds is qualitatively normal in spite of isolation from the parent plant, strongly suggesting that the control of this pattern is autonomous within the organ. There are, however, significant quantitative discrepancies between cultured and natural fronds which require histological analysis.