Obligate Apogamy in Cheilanthes tomentosa and C. alabamensis

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Abstract
Spores of the fern species Cheilanthes tomentosa and C. alabamensis in axenic culture give rise to cordate gametophytes without sex organs. Cells in a small group behind the sinus in the thickened region of the prothallus increase in number and organize into the leaf, root, and, finally, stem of an apogamous sporophyte. Apogamy initiates on smaller gametophytes, initiating earlier with sucrose in the medium than without it. Increase in medium dryness reduces the rate of initiation of apogamous sporophytes. This is the first report of obligate apogamy in these species of Cheilanthes. The sporophytes of C. tomentosa and C. alabamensis have chromosome numbers of 60 and 87 ± 1, respectively.

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