XVI International Botanical Congess

Thelypteris confluens (Thunb.) Morton and Cyathea crinita (Hook.) Copel are the two rare and endangered fern species found in Western Ghats of South India coming under rare and endangered list (Manickam 1995) and which requires an urgent conservation measure. Efforts to multiply these ferns in vitro have been undertaken for ecological and conservation purpose. Spores were preferred as the starting material. Modified Miller and Miller media (M,M&M) was the optimal medium for germination and further growth, under 15-16 hr photoperiod at 1000 -lux light intensity. Maximum growth was attained in tree fern fibre soaked with M,M&M at pH 6.8 and 6 respectively. These ferns exhibits their own fashion of gametophyte production, sex expression and sporophyte emergence to complete their life cycle. The in vitro produced sporelings have been successfully hardened inside a mist house using various soil mixture trails, near the lab which was at sea level.