Micromorphological Characters of Pollen, Leaflet and Seed of Astragalus victoriae and Astragalus melanophrurius Endemic to Turkey

Micromorphological Characters of Pollen, Leaflet and Seed of Astragalus victoriae and Astragalus melanophrurius Endemic to Turkey

In this study, palynological, seed and leaflet micromorphological properties of Astragalus victoriae and Astragalus melanophrurius species were investigated in detail using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The aim of this study is to determine the contribution of pollen, leaflet and seed morphology characters in distinguishing between these two closely related species. Study results indicate that pollen of species are radial symmetric and isopolar. Aperture type is trizonocolporate. Pollen shape is determined as prolate-spheroidal  for Astragalus melanophrurius and subprolate for  Astragalus victoriae. Ornamentation type is observed as perforate at polar area and aperture surround, microreticulate at the other sides of pollen for A. melanophrurius while ornamentation determined as rugulate at polar area and aperture surround, microreticulate at the other sides of pollen for Astragalus victoriae.  Seeds shape are reniform, the colour is light brown and surface ornamentation determined as psilate in light microscope for both species while  reticulate-rugulate with thin and irregular muri determined  in Astragalus victoriae and  reticulate surface ornamentation with thick and regular muri in Astragalus melanophrurius in SEM micrograph. Leaflet observed as elliptic-ovate, emarginated with dens single celled trichomes on lower surface for  A. melanophrurius  while   narrowly elliptic, apiculate, with densely single-celled trichomes on lower surface leaflet observed for A. victoriae. Trichomes have scabrate ornamentation at A. melanophrurius and   striate ornamentation at A. victoriae. On the lower surface of the leaflet of A. victoriae 240 stomas and on the upper surface 263 stomas were detected in 1 mm2. Wile on the lower surface of the leaflet of A. melanophrurius 170 stomas and on the upper surface182 stomas were detected in 1 mm2. According to results pollen shape, pollen surface ornamentation, seed surface ornamentation, leaflet shape, trichome ornamentation, number of stomata per 1 mm2 determined as important micromorphological character for systematical delimination of two endemic species.

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