CERATOPTERIS RICHARDII: APPLICATIONS FOR EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY

Abstract

The homosporous fern life cycle provides numerous advantages for experimental studies. In particular, Ceratopteris richardii , because of its rapid life cycle and ease of culture, is a useful model system for a variety of basic and applied studies of plant development, genetics and molecular biology. Use of the gametophytic generation in screens for specific types of mutations has resulted in the successful isolation and characterization of mutations conferring tolerance or insensitivity to a variety of herbicides, NaCl, plant growth regulators and other agents. Recent progress in the development of a system for introducing exogenous DNA in Ceratopteris cells provides a foundation for future studies of the molecular basis of selected traits.