In vitroStudy on the Reproductive Behavior of the Endemic and Threatened Indian Liverwort:Cryptomitrium himalayenseKashyap (Aytoniaceae)

Axenic cultures of the thalloid liverwort Cryptomitrium himalayense Kashyap were established from spores and propagated in vitro under a variety of culture media and controlled environments to determine the optimum conditions for the onset of sexual phase. Enhanced vegetative growth in form of overlapping rosette-forming thalli occurs on half strength Knop's medium as well as in Hoagland medium under continuous illumination of 2.93 W/m2 at 21°C from the production of innovations from the basal parts of the dorsal surfaces of the thalli. Thalli became shorter and produced tuberous swelling following nutrient depletion and drying out of the medium. Sex organs were produced only on Hoagland medium supplemented with 1% sucrose under a long day regime with colder nights (16 hours light at 21°C and of 8 hours darkness at 15°C). Thalli acclimatized and transferred on soil also produced sex organs under similar conditions of photoperiod and temperature.