The objective of this experiment was to study the fern propagation from spores of Cyathea schanschin Mart and Dicksonia sellowiana (Presl.) Hook. The spores were decontaminated in calcium or sodium hypochlorite solutions. The in vitro experiments were performed with the media: MS modified, Jones or Knop's solution modified. Tree-fern fibre, sphagnum moss, loam soil or brick peaces were, used for the in vivo experiments. The temperature was mantained at 25 ± 1°C and 16 hours of photoperiod for both treatments (In vivo and in vitro cultures). Besides the high percentage of contamination during the germination process, in vitro and in vivo, the best results were obtained with decontamination made in a 2% sodium hypochlorite solution. The spores germination occurred after a period of 4 to 8 weeks and the prothalli were formed 30 to 40 days latter. There was a high percentage of germination and prothalli formation in Jones and Knop media, and tree-fern fibre and sphagnum moss substrates.
Ptoridophytes; in vivo and in vitro cultures; spores; propagation