<p><i>Actiniopteris radiata</i> (Sw.) Link is known for its suppressed sex organs thereby interrogating on how the gametophytes, gametangia and sporophytes develop, as also on whether gametangia expression is regulated solely by sugar or other nutrients too. The present study aims to discern the ontogeny of gametophytes, to know their developmental process, and to investigate the role of sugar at 100% control and 200% double strength of Parker’s and Thomson’s (P&amp;T) culture medium on the expression of sexual gametangia. In-vitro studies on gametophytes were carried out through multispore culture of gametophytes in control and double strength culture media. Different gametophytic stages, gametangia, and sporophytes development were studied. The spores started germinating after 24 days on the control culture medium and after 8 days on the double strength culture medium reaching 100% after 45 days in double strength medium and after 60 days in the control medium. Studies on gametophytes in multispore culture revealed that the male sex organs predominantly developed in control culture medium, while female organs usually developed in double strength medium. This study confirmed that the plant does not fail to express sex organs successfully, and in-vitro results confirmed that sugar is not the only nutrient needed for gametangia development in fern species. Thus, the availability of some macro or micro elements present in the P&amp;T culture medium facilitates sexual expression. The present study provides an insight into gametangia expression and apogamous sporophytes development mediated by sugarless control and double strength culture media.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>