Developmental Biology of Fern Gametophytes (Developmental and Cell Biology Series, Series Number 20)

The aim of the series is to present relatively short accounts of areas of developmental and cell biology where sufficient information has accumulated to allow a considered distillation of the cells. This book studies the developmental biology of fern gametophytes, from their beginning through growth and maturation to their reproductive strategies. The books are intended to interest and instruct advanced undergraduates and graduate students and to make an important contribution to teaching cell and developmental biology. At the same time, they should be of value to biologists who, while not working directly in the area of a particular volume's subject matter, wish to keep abreast of developments relative to their particular interests.

This volume outlines all of the phases of the gametophytic generation in ferns such as spore germination and sex organ initiation, from how the gametophyte grows to how it eventually initiates the sporophytic generation. The book discusses these stages in morphological, physiological, cytological and biochemical terms, and, by combining all these perspectives, presents a new view of this interesting developmental process that sheds light on general plant development. Developmental biologists will find this book a useful resource.

Extant ferns comprise a group of about 12 000 species of plants widely distributed throughout the world in many habitats and niches.