Comparative Morphological Structures of Pollen Grains of Six Taxa of Silenoideae, Caryophyllaceae

Abstract

The morphological structures of pollens grains of six taxa belonging to 3 genera of Silenoideae, Caryophyllaceae were examined with the light and scanning electron microscope . In order to elucidate its significance in taxonomy of the group, qualitative and quantitative variables of pollen characters related to the shape, size, aperture characteristics of pores, exine characteristics include exine thickness columellae pattern (LM), tectum (LM) and Sculpture of pollen grain were studied. The pollen grains in the studied species were apolar, polypantoporate, with 12-36 pores. The dominant character of pollen ornamentation is spinulose with variably sparse spinules. Pollen size also varies among different species, and length of the grain diameter are in medium-sized (23-60μm). Cluster and principal component analysis (PCA) of qualitative and quantitative data were used to demonstrate the pollen grains similarities among the species. UPGMA tree derived from cluster analysis reveals two major clusters, the first of which consists of three species (Silene dioca, Silene vulgaris subsp. thorei and Silene pusilla. The second cluster comprises the rest of species Silene vulgaris subsp. bosniaca, Dianthus gratianopolitanus and Minuartia mutabilis, a more pollen grains description to be obtained results in comparative manner to these taxa which belong the family.