In October 2020, at the Azores Seed Bank, trials with the species Asplenium marinum were initiated within the frame of action C3 “Implementation of pilot studies for the conservation of endemic flora” of the LIFE IP AZORES NATURA project. In order to avoid contamination of the spores (due to their small size), the boxes were kept tightly closed, being only opened for the removal of excess water and monitoring on January 22, 2021. The boxes were observed using a binocular magnifier to confirm the germination stage, comparing the observations with the images published in scientific articles (Pangua et al., 2009). Thus, it was possible to confirm the presence of prothalli (young and mature gametophyte phase). In the coming months, the boxes will be kept closed at optimum conditions of 20ºC / 15ºC (16h / 8h), in order to avoid contamination during the fertilization phase of the prothalli and to obtain the young sporophyte (first fronds). This phase is essential for the successful germination of this pteridophyte.

Pangua, E., Belmonte, R., & Pajarón, S. (2009). Germination and reproductive biology in salty conditions of Asplenium marinum (Aspleniaceae), a European coastal fern. Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 204(9), 673–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2008.09.007