Abstract: We studied the effects of heavy metal Pb²⁺ on spore germination of Ceratopteris thalictroides, Alsophila costularis and Neocheiropteris palmatopedata and the gametophyte development of C.thalictroides. With the increasing of Pb²⁺, germination percentage of spores is reduced in C.thalictroides, A.costularis and N.palmatopedata. When the concentration is lower than 10^-4 mol·L^-1, the spore of C.thalictroides will germinate. When the concentration is lower than 10^-5 mol·L^-1, the spore of A.costularis and N.palmatopedata will germinate. Spores of C.thalictroides, A.costularis and N.palmatopedata have a certain tolerance to Pb²⁺. The heavy metal (Pb²⁺) have an effect on gametophyte development of C.thalictroides, which makes gametophyte irregular and produces more male gametophyte. The antheridium is recessed into the edge of prothallium, and the chloroplast is unevenly distributed in the C.thalictroides. The present investigation provided some selective plants which can repair the Pb²⁺ polluted soil.

Key words: Pb²⁺, spore germination, gametophyte development, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Alsophila costularis, Neocheiropteris palmatopedata