Chapter 1: INTRODUCTIONCONTRIBUTION OF FERNS TO UNDERSTANDING OF PLANT DEVELOPMENTChapter 2 Cellular, molecular and genetic changes during the development of Ceratopteris richardii gametophytesAuthors: Salmi M, Bushart T and Roux S J Chapter 3 Laboratory-induced Apogamy and Apospory in Ceratopteris richardiiAuthors: Cordle AR., Bui LT, Irish EE, and Cheng C-LChapter 4 Sexual reproduction in fernsAuthors: Menéndez V, Revilla A, Peredo E, Revilla MA, and Fernández H.Chapter 5 Gibberellic acid and ethylene control male sex determination and development of Anemia phyllitidis gametophytesAuthor: Kazmierczak A.Chapter 6 The sporophytes of seed-free vascular plants -major vegetative developmental features and molecular genetic pathwaysAuthors: Tomescu A.PROPAGATION, CONSERVATION AND CONTROL OF GENETIC VARIABILITY IN FERNS.Chapter 7 Form spore to sporophyte: How to proceed in vitro Authors: Menéndez V, Arbesú R, Somer M, Revilla A, and Fernández H.Chapter 8 In vitro regeneration systems of PlatyceriumAuthors: Camloh M and Ambrozic-Dolinsek J.Chapter 9 Stipule propagation in five Marattioid species native to Taiwan (Marattiaceae; Pteridophyta)Authors: Huang Y-M, Huang M-H, Chen C-M, Chiou W-LChapter 10 Tree ferns biotechnology: from spores to sporophytesAuthors: Rybczy?ski JJ and Miku?a A.Chapter 11 In Vitro Propagation of Rare and Endangered Serpentine Fern Species Authors: Marsza?-Jagacka J and Kromer KChapter 12 Conservation of fern spores.Authors: Ballesteros D. Chapter 13 Exploration of cryo-methods to preserve tree and herbaceous fern gametophytesAuthors: Miku?a A, Makowski D, Walters C, and Rybczy?ski JJ. Chapter 14 Pteridophyte spores viabilityAutores: Gabriel y Galán JM, and Prada C.Chapter 15 Microsatellites: a powerful genetic marker for fern researchAuthor: Jiménez-Soria A.Chapter 16 Diversity in natural fern populations: dominant markers as genetic tools.Authors: Peredo EL, Revilla MA, Méndez M,Menéndez V and Fernández H.ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY: ECOTOXICOLOGY AND BIOREMEDIATION IN FERNS Chapter 17 Mitochondrial activity of fern spores for the evaluation of acute totoxicity in higher plant developmentAuthors: Catalá M, Esteban M and García L. Chapter 18 Chronic phytotoxicity in gametophytes: DNA as biomarker of growth and chlorophyll autofluorescence as biomarker of cell functionAuthors: Catalá M and Rodriguez-Gil JL. Chapter 19 Arsenic hyperaccumulator fern Pteris vittata: Utilities for arsenic phytoremediation and plant biotechnologyAuthor: Rathinasabapathi B.Chapter 20 Aerobiology of Pteridophyta spores: preliminary results and applicationsAuthor: Rodriguez de la Cruz D. THERAPEUTICAL/MEDICINAL APPLICATIONSChapter 21 Studies on Folk Medicinal Fern: An example of "Gusuibu"Author: Chang H-C, Gupta SK and Tsay H-S.Chapter 22 Ecdysteroids in Ferns: diversity, distribution, biosynthesis and functionsAuthors: Lafont R, Ho R, Raharivelomanana P and Dinan L.Chapter 23 Ferns - from traditional uses to pharmaceutical development; chemical identification of active principlesAuthors: Ho R, Teai T, Bianchini JP, Lafont R and Raharivelomanana P. Chapter 24 Functional activities of ferns for human healthAuthors: Lee CH and Shin SL. Chapter 25 Toxicological and medicinal aspects of the most frequent fern species Pteridium aquilinumAuthor: Vetter J.