Interspecific competition affects spore germination and gametophyte development of mosses
(2016) BIOM01 20152Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- Even though protonemal development of bryophytes has been well studied, it remains unknown whether interspecific competition among mosses species affects their early growth and development. This study evaluated the effects of interspecific competition on in vitro germination and gametophyte development between each pair-wise combination from six common moss species: Atrichum undulatum, Bryum argenteum, Ceratodon purpureus, Funaria hygrometrica, Hypnum cupressiforme and Leptobryum pyriforme. Two experiments were included: In the first experiment, each species was monocultured in sterile agar plates as controls, and each pair of mosses (in total 15 pair-wise combination) were cultured together in agar plates with two time intervals --- both... (More)
- Even though protonemal development of bryophytes has been well studied, it remains unknown whether interspecific competition among mosses species affects their early growth and development. This study evaluated the effects of interspecific competition on in vitro germination and gametophyte development between each pair-wise combination from six common moss species: Atrichum undulatum, Bryum argenteum, Ceratodon purpureus, Funaria hygrometrica, Hypnum cupressiforme and Leptobryum pyriforme. Two experiments were included: In the first experiment, each species was monocultured in sterile agar plates as controls, and each pair of mosses (in total 15 pair-wise combination) were cultured together in agar plates with two time intervals --- both species were sown at the same time, and one species was sown 20 days after the other---as treatments. The second experiment was based on the results of the first one: 1ml sterile water was added to the agar plate if the treatment showed significant germination difference of spores compared to the control, and then the water was collected and added to new spores to test for allelopathic effects.
Each species decreased its spore germination rate in a certain way when sown with another one, and the inhibition in spore germination was stronger in treatments with 20 days interval than those with 0 day interval. For different species, the number of gametophytes per germinated spore could be higher or lower than control when sown with different species. The results indicated that spore germination is easily inhibited by interspecific competition, and it is difficult for the second species to germinate if the first one already occupies the space. The interspecific competition could inhibit or enhance the formation of gametophytes. However, no significant inhibition of spore germination was found in the second experiment, which indicated that allelopathy mediated by dissolved substances was not present or too weak to be detected in the present experimental setup. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Are spore germination and gametophyte development of mosses affected by interspecific competition?
Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are dispersed by microscopic spores that are dispersed in the air by winds. When these spores land on a suitable substrate they start to germinate. The first stage that develops after germination, the protonema, looks more like a thread-formed alga. After some time the protonema form buds, which gives rise to the growth forms typical for mature mosses, called the gametophytes. Even though protonemal development of bryophytes has been well studied, it remains unknown whether interspecific competition among mosses species affects their early growth and development.
This study evaluated the... (More) - Are spore germination and gametophyte development of mosses affected by interspecific competition?
Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are dispersed by microscopic spores that are dispersed in the air by winds. When these spores land on a suitable substrate they start to germinate. The first stage that develops after germination, the protonema, looks more like a thread-formed alga. After some time the protonema form buds, which gives rise to the growth forms typical for mature mosses, called the gametophytes. Even though protonemal development of bryophytes has been well studied, it remains unknown whether interspecific competition among mosses species affects their early growth and development.
This study evaluated the effects of interspecific competition on in vitro germination and gametophyte development between each pair-wise combination from six common moss species: Atrichum undulatum, Bryum argenteum, Ceratodon purpureus, Funaria hygrometrica, Hypnum cupressiforme and Leptobryum pyriforme. Two experiments were included: In the first experiment, each species was monocultured in sterile agar plates as controls, and each pair of mosses (in total 15 pair-wise combination) were cultured together in agar plates with two time intervals as treatments. The second experiment was based on the results of the first one to test for allelopathic effects.
Each species decreased its spore germination rate in a certain way when sown with another one, and the inhibition in spore germination was stronger in treatments with 20 days interval than those with 0 day interval. For different species, the number of gametophytes per germinated spore could be higher or lower than control when sown with different species. The results indicated that spore germination is easily inhibited by interspecific competition, and it is difficult for the second species to germinate if the first one already occupies the space. The interspecific competition could inhibit or enhance the formation of gametophytes. However, no significant inhibition of spore germination was found in the second experiment, which indicated that allelopathy mediated by dissolved substances was not present or too weak to be detected in the present experimental setup.
Supervisor: Nils Cronberg
Master´s Degree Project in Biology 30 credits, 2016
Department of Biology, Lund University (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8867079
- author
- Cheng, Jingmin
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BIOM01 20152
- year
- 2016
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 8867079
- date added to LUP
- 2016-03-23 13:21:14
- date last changed
- 2016-03-23 13:21:14
@misc{8867079,
abstract = {{Even though protonemal development of bryophytes has been well studied, it remains unknown whether interspecific competition among mosses species affects their early growth and development. This study evaluated the effects of interspecific competition on in vitro germination and gametophyte development between each pair-wise combination from six common moss species: Atrichum undulatum, Bryum argenteum, Ceratodon purpureus, Funaria hygrometrica, Hypnum cupressiforme and Leptobryum pyriforme. Two experiments were included: In the first experiment, each species was monocultured in sterile agar plates as controls, and each pair of mosses (in total 15 pair-wise combination) were cultured together in agar plates with two time intervals --- both species were sown at the same time, and one species was sown 20 days after the other---as treatments. The second experiment was based on the results of the first one: 1ml sterile water was added to the agar plate if the treatment showed significant germination difference of spores compared to the control, and then the water was collected and added to new spores to test for allelopathic effects.
Each species decreased its spore germination rate in a certain way when sown with another one, and the inhibition in spore germination was stronger in treatments with 20 days interval than those with 0 day interval. For different species, the number of gametophytes per germinated spore could be higher or lower than control when sown with different species. The results indicated that spore germination is easily inhibited by interspecific competition, and it is difficult for the second species to germinate if the first one already occupies the space. The interspecific competition could inhibit or enhance the formation of gametophytes. However, no significant inhibition of spore germination was found in the second experiment, which indicated that allelopathy mediated by dissolved substances was not present or too weak to be detected in the present experimental setup.}},
author = {{Cheng, Jingmin}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Interspecific competition affects spore germination and gametophyte development of mosses}},
year = {{2016}},
}