Abstract The spore morphology and wall ultrastructure of 12 species of Ctenitis from Southern Cone of America were studied using light microscope, scanning and transmission electron microscope. The study was carried out with herbarium material from Argentine and Brazilian institutions. Equatorial diameters, polar diameters and laesura length were measured. The spores are monolete with echinate or folded ornamentation. In the echinate type, the spines are conical, with broad base and attenuate apex. In the rugate type, the folds are inflated, linear, sinuous, subglobose or handle-shape. The perispore surface is scabrate, rugulate, microverrucose or psilate. Stratification and ultrastructure in the species analyzed are very similar. The exospore is smooth and two-layered in section. Simple and branched channels are observed mainly in the outer exospore. The perispore is composed of two layers, the inner one forms the ornamentation and the outer covers all the outer and inner surfaces. Immature spores were found in all samples of C. fenestralis. The characteristics of the studied spores like macro-ornamentation, color and fold length provide relevant information to differentiate some species or groups of species within the genus.

Summary Background and aims : The morphological characteristics of the spores provide information for the identification of fern taxa. To deepen the analyses of the morphological characteristics of the spores of the isosporated ferns inhabiting the Punta Lara Nature Reserve using light microscopy. M&M : The spores of the isosporate ferns that grow in the Punta Lara Nature Reserve (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) were studied under a light microscope. The study was carried out with fresh materials collected during three years (2016-2018) at different sites of the Reserve. Twenty fern taxa, 16 native and 4 exotic, were analysed. The registered characteristics were: colour, shape, major and minor equatorial diameters, polar diameter, length and characteristics of the laesura and wall ornamentation. Results : The colour of the spores may be yellow, light brown, dark brown and only in Equisetum they are green (chlorophyllous). Most spores are monolete (13 species), other trilete (6 species) and only one species has alete spores. The spore walls may be smooth, wrinkled, folded, verrucated, tuberculated, reticulated and winged. Conclusions : The morphology of the spores allows the identification of the ferns of the Reserve at a generic and specific level and provides information for palaeopalynological and aeropalynological studies and of soil spore banks.

Resumen Introducción y objetivo : Las características morfológicas de las esporas brindan información para la identificación de taxa de helechos. Profundizar los análisis de las características morfológicas de las esporas de los helechos isosporados que habitan en la Reserva Natural de Punta Lara utilizando microscopía óptica. M&M : Se estudiaron con microscopio óptico las esporas de helechos isosporados que crecen en la Reserva Natural Punta Lara (provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina). El estudio fue llevado a cabo con material fresco colectado durante 3 años (20162018) en diferentes sitios de la Reserva. Se analizaron 20 taxa de helechos, 16 nativos y 4 exóticos. Las características registradas fueron: color, forma, diámetros ecuatoriales mayor y menor, diámetro polar, longitud y características de la lesura y ornamentación de la pared. Resultados : El color de las esporas puede ser amarillo, castaño claro, castaño oscuro y solo en el caso de Equisetum son verdes (clorofílicas). La mayoría de esporas son monoletes (13 especies), otras triletes (6 especies) y una sola especie posee esporas aletes. Las paredes de las esporas pueden ser lisas, plegadas, verrucosas, tuberculadas, reticuladas y ruguladas-crestadas. Conclusiones : La morfología de las esporas permite la identificación de los helechos de la Reserva a nivel de género y especie y aporta información para estudios paleopalinológicos, aeropalinológicos y de bancos de esporas del suelo.

Abstract The spore morphology and wall ultrastructure of Dryopteris filix-mas, D. patula and D. wallichiana from Argentina were studied using light microscope, scanning and transmission electron microscope. The study was carried out with herbarium material from Argentine institutions. Equatorial diameters, polar diameters and laesura length were measured. The spores are monoletes with a rugate ornamentation. The folds are short to long, inflate, irregular in shape and size, and varying from subglobose to elongate. The perispore surface is rugulate. The exospore of all the species analyzed is two-layered in section. Simple and branched channels are also present. The perispore is composed of two layers, the inner one forms the ornamentation and the outer covers all the outer and inner surfaces. Some abnormalities, such as globose, triangular or twisted spores were observed. The morphology and ultrastructure of the species are very similar. The differences observed are related to the length and thickness of the perispore folds. The characteristics of these spores would not provide relevant information to differentiate species or sections within the genus, but can provide information for phylogenetic studies as well as for alterations in the biological cycles.

Anogramma chaerophylla belongs to a fern genus with annual sporophytes and potentially perennating gametophytes. In the studied area, Natural Reserve Punta Lara, the plants grow stressed mainly by pollution and the invasion of exotic species. As a part of a project on conservation of ferns inhabiting Buenos Aires province, the objectives of this work were to evaluate in Anogramma chaerophylla the conditions for in-vitro spore germination and to analyse the different stages of its reproductive cycle. Spores were sterilized in an aqueous solution 10 % of NaCIO during different times and then sown in Petri dishes with Murashige & Skoog medium, without the addition of sucrose. The dishes were kept under laboratory conditions, at 12 h light/ darkness photoperiod and a temperature of 22 (± 2) °C. After two weeks, the percentage of germination was 80%. The spore germination pattern corresponds to the Vittaria type and the prothallus development was Ceratopteris type. Gametangia developed first in the bended thalloid region of the prothallus and then bisexual tubercles originated near this zone. The sporophytes developed only in association with the tubercles. During culture in plastic pots the sporophytes gave origin to a second generation of prothalli. Our preliminary findings demonstrate that the in vitro culture technique is suitable for A. chaerophylla propagation as a strategy for ex-situ conservation.

Anogramma chaerophylla pertenece a un género de helechos con esporofitos anuales y gametofitos potencialmente perennes. En el área de estudio, la Reserva Natural Punta Lara, la vegetación crece bajo estrés debido principalmente a la contaminación y la invasión de especies exóticas. Como parte de un proyecto de conservación de helechos que habitan en la provincia de Buenos Aires, los objetivos del trabajo fueron evaluar en Anogramma chaerophylla las condiciones para la germinación de esporas in-vitro y analizar las distintas etapas de su ciclo reproductivo. Las esporas fueron desinfectadas en solución 10 % de NaCIO durante distintos tiempos y sembradas luego en medio de cultivo Murashige - Skoog, sin agregado de sacarosa. Las cápsulas se incubaron con un fotoperíodo de 12 h luz/oscuridad y una temperatura de 22 (± 2) °C. A las dos semanas germinaron el 80% de las esporas. El patrón de germinación fue tipo Vittaria y el desarrollo del protalo tipo Ceratopteris. Los gametangios aparecieron primero en la región engrosada del protalo donde posteriormente se originaron los tubérculos bisexuales. Los esporofitos se desarrollaron solo en asociación con los tubérculos. Durante su cultivo en macetas, éstos dieron origen a una segunda generación de protalos. Nuestros resultados demuestran que la técnica de cultivo in vitro es apropiada para la propagación de Anogramma chaerophylla y como estrategia para su conservación ex-situ.