ABSTRACT
Spores of Pleopeltis lepidopteris (Langsd. & Fisch.) de la Sota were removed from fertile fronds collected in the isle of Santa Catarina, Brazil, separated from debris by filtering through lens paper and stored in glass jars at 7 ± 1ºC. Superficially sterilized spores were sown in bottles containing 20 ml of mineral medium as proposed by Mohr, modified by Dyer and supplemented with Benomyl (25 mg.l-1). The germination was conducted in growth room, at 25 ± 2ºC (30 mmol m-2s-1) and a 16 h-photoperiod. Spores of Pleopeltis lepidopteris considered to be viable were totally filled of yellow substances. The spores are monolete, with approximately 40 x 62 µm, and show spherical deposits in the smoothly papillate-granulate perispore. After 15 days of spore inoculation, the filamentous gametophyte present a long rhizoidal cell, without chlorophyll, a line of four to seven chlorophyllated cells; after 30 days, the spatulated laminar phase is more evident, and show a central apical meristem; after 45 days, the gametophyte are laminar and present the heart shape; after 120 days of culture the apical meristem is conspicuous; unicellular trichomes and reproductive structures are very evident. The morphoanatomy of the leaves of young sporophyte show scales in the frond faces, unistratified epidermis, the mesophyll consisted of a palisade and spongy parenchyma. The anomocytic stomata are presented in the abaxial frond face and the subsidiary cells show sinuous anticlinal walls. The rachis vascular anficrival tissue is delimited by the endoderm.
Key words:
gametophyte; morphoanatomy; Pleopeltis lepidopteris; spore; sporophyte