Cycles of Seed Evolution

The Basics. Sunlight plays a much larger role in our sustenance than we may expect: all the food we eat and all the fossil fuel we use is a product of photosynthesis, which is the process that converts energy in sunlight to chemical forms of energy that can be used by biological systems. Photosynthesis is carried out by many different organisms, ranging from plants to bacteria (Figure 1). The best known form of photosynthesis is the …

…wth and is about 1/8 inch thick. The gametophyte reproduces sexually and forms SPOROPHYTES (SPORE-oh-fights) which have visible roots, stems and leaves. During the first phase of growing ferns, sterile conditions are critical. Moss, fungi and algae compete aggressively with young fern gametophytes. Sow spores on top of a pasteurized (sterile), moist, soilless mix or sphagnum peat in a disinfested container. Water must also be sterile. It takes from 3 to 6 months to grow ferns from spores.