Pollen morphology and viability in Bromeliaceae

ABSTRACT Pollen morphology characterization is important in taxonomy, conservation and plant breeding, and pollen viability studies can support breeding programs. This study investigated pollen morphology and male fertility in 18 species of Bromeliaceae with ornamental potential. For morphological characterization, pollen grains were acetolyzed and characterization of exine was done using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Pollen viability was investigated by in vitro germination and histochemical tests. Species belonging to Aechmea and Ananas genera presented medium size pollen, except for Ae. fasciata, with large pollen. Al. nahoumii, P. sagenarius and the Vriesea species analyzed showed large pollen, except for V. carinata, with very large pollen. Pollen of Aechmea, Ananas and P. sagenarius presented bilateral symmetry, diporate, exine varying from tectate to semitectate. Al. nahoumii and Vriesea species presented pollen with bilateral symmetry, monocolpate; exine was semitectate, reticulate and heterobrochate. Germination percentage and tube growth were greater in SM and BKM media. Histochemical tests showed pollen viability above 70% for all species, except for Ananas sp. (40%). Pollen morphology is important for the identification of species, especially in this family, which contains a large number of species. High rates of viability favor fertilization and seed production, essential for efficient hybrid production and conservation.

Morfología polínica de especies del género Senna (Fabaceae) del Sureste del Iberá, Corrientes, Argentina / Pollen morphology of species of genus Senna (Fabales: Fabaceae) in Southeast Ibera, Corrientes, Argentina

The system of Ibera lake and marshes in the Province of Corrientes, covers an area of approximately12 000km², and is considered one of the most important wetlands in Latin America. Given the wide diversity oftropical communities in this area, it is important to generate new information about the different species of this ecosystem, through pollen morphology, as lake sediments favor the pollen grains conservation. With the aim to promote future research on systematics, vegetation history and melissopalynology of this region, this study attempted to describe the pollen morphology of the well represented genus Senna. For this, we conducted 5-8 days collection trips in Southeast Ibera, on a monthly basis between 2009 and 2011. Based on the plants collected, the literature review and databases from the herbarium of the Botanical Institute of Northeast Argentina, we developed a list of species for the Province of Corrientes. For the pollen morphology, we manually took at least three flower buds per flower in the sampled sites, and for those species not sampled in the field, samples were obtained from the IBONE herbarium. Palynological material preparation was carried out by a modified tech nique of Erdtman acetolysis. The palynological descriptions considered the polar and equatorial diameter, exine thickness, openings and sculptural elements. Our results showed that Senna genus is euripalynic, composed of 3-colporate pollen grains, small to medium size, radiosymmetric, isopolar, oblates-spheroidals to prolates, subcircular field, subtriangular to triangular and long colpis. We described for the first time, the pollen morphology of 17 species of the genus Senna for this area, and recognized two groups considering endoapertures: lalongates and circular. The list of species belonging to the genus Senna presented here could be considered in restoration and recovery plans. A major constraint for the correct interpretation of the environmental changes impacts in vegetation, whether of climatic and/or anthropogenic origin, is the knowledge of pollen morphology of tropical species. A palynological database is of high value for the interpretation and determination of plant species.

El sistema de esteros y lagunas del Iberá, en la provincia de Corrientes abarcan aproximadamente 12 000km² de superficie y es considerado uno de los humedales más importantes de Latinoamérica. Dada la gran diversidad de las comunidades tropicales en esta área, es importante generar nueva información sobre las diferentes especies de este ecosistema, a través de la morfología del polen, ya que los sedimentos lacustres constituyen un medio ácido, pobre en oxígeno y favorable a la conservación de granos de polen que se depositan en su superficie. Con el objetivo de promover futuras investigaciones sobre la sistemática, historia de la vegetación y melisopalinología de esta región, el estudio trató de describir la morfología polínica del género Senna, que se halla bien representado en la zona. Se elaboró un listado de especies pertenecientes a la Provincia de Corrientes. Este listado se realizó mediante recolectas botánicas realizadas en el Sureste del Iberá, durante 5 a 8 días de cada mes entre 2009 y 2011, adicionalmente, se consultó literatura especializada y bases de datos de herbario del Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste Argentino. En cuanto al estudio morfológico del polen, se tomaron manualmente los botones florales de ejemplares en la zona de estudio. Para aquellas especies que no pudieron ser muestreadas en campo, se precisó de la toma de botones florales del herbario del IBONE. La preparación del material palinológico se llevó a cabo por la técnica modificada de acetólisis de Erdtman. Las descripciones palinológicas consideran el diámetro polar y ecuatorial, grosor de la exina, aberturas y elementos esculturales. Los resultados muestran que el género Senna es euripolínico, compuesto de granos 3-colporados pequeños a medianos, radiosimétricos, isopolares, oblatos-esferoidales a prolatos, ámbito subcircular, subtriangular a triangular; colpos largos. Aquí, se describen por primera vez para la zona, la morfología polínica de 17 especies del género Senna, del sureste del sistema Iberá, reconociéndose dos grupos teniendo en cuenta endoaperturas: lalongadas y circulares. El listado de especies pertenecientes al género Senna presentado en este trabajo debe ser considerado en las actividades de restauración y recuperación de los diferentes tipos de vegetación. Una limitación importante para la correcta interpretación del impacto de las variaciones ambientales en la vegetación, ya sean climáticas y/o antropogénicas, es el conocimiento de la morfología polínica de las especies tropicales, por lo tanto, se debe contar con una base de datos palinológica a nivel morfológico que ayude a la interpretación y determinación de especies vegetales.

Histological analysis of pollen-pistil interactions in sour passion fruit plants (Passiflora edulis Sims)

The success of sexual plant reproduction is directly influenced by specific interactions between the pollen and pistil. Light, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to evaluate the steps of pollination in sour passion fruit plants (Passiflora edulis Sims). In the compatible interaction, pollen tubes grow through stigma projections towards the ovary. The pollen grain surface was found to be spheroidal and to consist of heteroreticulate exine with six colpi. Furthermore, analysis in vivo of pollen-pistil interactions indicated that stigmas of flowers 24 hours before anthesis are unable to discriminate compatible (genetically unrelated) and incompatible (genetically related) pollen grains. Taken together, these results provide insight into the cellular mechanisms underlying pollination in passion fruit plants.

Morfología del polen en especies de Canna (Cannaceae) y su implicancia sistemática

Pollen morphology in species of Canna (Cannaceae), and systematics implications. The morphology of pollen grains of eight taxa of Canna, C. ascendens, C. coccinea, C. compacta, C. glauca, C. indica, C. paniculata, C. variegatifolia and C. fuchsina, an unpublished new species, were studied using light and scanning electronic microscopes. We used the Wodehouse technique on samples of 20 grains per specimen to measure the intine with a light microscope; and the density of spines (in 400μm2 fields) with scanning electronic microscopy. Pollen grains are spherical, echinate, omniaperturate. The sporoderm presents a very thin exine covering a thicker intine. Corrugate micro-perforate, sub-reticulate, rugate, rugulate, striate to folded, micro-striate, micro-granulate, and smooth types of the external surface of the sporoderm were found. The spines consist of exine, partially to completely covered by tryphine. The two-layered intine is the thicker part of the wall. Echinate ornamentation is a generic character in Canna, but size, surface and color of pollen walls, and density and shape of spines, are diagnostic for species. Pollen morphology supports the view of C. indica and C. coccinea as different species. Canna fuchsina grows in wild, dense colonies, in humid riverside forests from Buenos Aires and Santa Fe Provinces, Argentina; its characters suggest relationships with a not well known group of taxa, some of them hybrids, such as C. x generalis. However, as these plants showed normal, well formed grains, close to those of C. coccinea, that germinate over the stigmatic surfaces in fresh flowers, we decided to include their pollen in this study. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (1): 63-79. Epub 2010 March 01.

Se estudió la morfología de los granos de polen de ocho táxones de Canna, C. ascendens, C. coccinea, C. compacta, C. glauca, C. indica, C. paniculata, C. variegatifolia y C. fuchsina, nueva especie aún no descrita, que fueron estudiadas usando microscopio de luz y microscopio electrónico de barrido. Nosotros utilizamos la técnica de Wodehouse en muestras de 20 granos por espécimen para medir la intina con el microscopio de luz; y la densidad de espinas (en campos de 400μm2) con el microscopio electrσnico de barrido. Los granos de polen son esfιricos, equinados y omniaberturados. El esporodermo presenta una exina muy delgada cubriendo una intina gruesa. La superficie del esporodermo puede ser corrugada, microperforada, sub-reticulada, rugada, rugulada, plegada-estriada, micro-estriada, microgranulada o lisa. Las espinas están formadas por exina, cubiertas total o parcialmente por trifina. La intina esta formada por dos capas, es la parte más gruesa de la pared. La ornamentación equinada es un rasgo genérico en Canna, pero el tamaño, la superficie y el color del polen, y la densidad y forma de las espinas, son rasgos diagnósticos de las especies. La morfología del polen apoya el tratamiento de C. coccinea y C. indica como especies diferentes. Canna fuchsina crece formando densas colonias silvestres en selvas ribereñas húmedas de las provincias de Buenos Aires y Santa Fe, Argentina; sus características sugieren relaciones no muy bien entendidas en el grupo de taxones, algunos son híbridos tales como C. x generalis. Sin embargo, estas plantas muestran granos normales, bien formados, cercanos a los de C. coccinea, que germinan sobre el estigma de flores frescas, nosotros decidimos incluir su polen en este estudio.

Morfología del polen de especies neotropicales de Podostemum (Podostemaceae)

Pollen morphology of neotropical species of Podostemum (Malpighiales: Podostemaceae). Pollen morphology of neotropical species of Podostemum is described for the first time with light (LM) and scanning electronic microscopes (SEM), using pollen dehydration by critical point. Herbarium specimens under study are P. comatum, P. distichum, P. muelleri and P. rutifolium. Pollen grains are dispersed in dyads. Observed with LM, dyads range from 21 to 31μm in lengh and 12 to 18μm wide. Individual pollen grains are radially symmetrical spheroidal to subprolate, and have a tricolpate aperture. The exine is tectate, psilate, with an infratectal structure formed by simple columella under the tectum. With SEM, an abundant pollen surface coat is observed all over the pollen grains, mainly in the two grains dyad contact zone. This pollen coat would protect the grains from dehydration because the environments in which these plants grow have important water variation and pollination is not zoophilic. The shared dyad wall shows bridges that partially fusion the exines, forming calymate dyads. Some dyads bear the apertures aligned between grains and some not. The transverse condition of the aperture or aperture in "L" that occurs in the four studied species is described for the first time. It is interpreted as a trend of the genus to espiroaperture. This change in the aperture would be associated with phenology because it is a genus with very short flowering and anthesis, generally a day of anthesis in the dry season. The spiroaperture increases the chances of germination sites and would also have a harmomegata role in an environment with water changes favoring the reproductive success.Walls have a microechinate sculpture, with or without pads at the base of the microechinae. Size of ornamental processes differs, and the colpus membrane has similar ornamentation to that of the non apertural wall, but with larger processes. Individual morphology of pollen grains is similar to that described for other family genera as Apinagia and Mourera. During previous stages of anthesis, the presence of cross tetrads was observed, also a new contribution for this genus. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (1): 81-88. Epub 2010 March 01.

La morfología del polen de cuatro especies neotropicales del género Podostemum (Podostemaceae) se describe aquí por primera vez mediante microscopía de luz y electrónica de barrido, utilizando material deshidratado en punto crítico. Se analizaron ejemplares de P. comatum, P. distichum, P. muelleri y P. rutifolium. Los granos de polen son dispersados en díades. Se encuentra abundante cobertura polínica, principalmente en la zona de contacto entre los dos granos de la díada. En la pared compartida entre los granos se presentan puentes de ectexina que fusionan parcialmente las exinas. Los granos individuales son radialmente simétricos y tricolpados. En algunas díades las aberturas están alineadas entre los granos y en otras no. Se describe por primera vez la condición abertura transversal, que fue observada en las cuatro especies estudiadas, y que se interpreta como tendencia del género a espiroabertura. La escultura de la exina es microequinada con mamelones en la base. Los procesos ornamentales son de diferente tamaño. La membrana del colpo tiene una ornamentación similar a la pared adyacente del grano, pero los procesos tienen mayor tamaño. Se observaron tétrades decusadas en las etapas previas a la antesis, un dato hasta el momento no registrado para el género.

Palynological studies of family Euphorbiaceae from kaghan valley, Mansehra, N.W.F.P., Pakistan

Palynological study of 04 species belonging to 04 genera of the family Euphorbiaceae from Kaghan Valley was conducted. Pollen grains of Euphorbiaceae are suboblate to prolate or prolate spheroidal to subprolate, 3-colporate, amb circular, circular-lobate or inter-subangular, colpi varying in length, in width and in thickness of margin, ora mostly not crassimarginate, transversally parallel, but some of them, ora transversally elliptic or circular, rarely crassimarginate, exine 1-3 micro m thick, tectum psilate or with scabrate, verrucate, gemmate or baculate processes, sexine mostly granulate or finely reticulate, with OL- or croton-pattern, nexine as thick as sexine. Size of grain varies from 15 to 60 micro m

Morphology and structure of the pollen cone and pollen grain of the Araucaria species from Argentina

The pollen cone and the pollen grain of the two Argentinean species of Araucaria are described with LM, SEM and TEM. Primordia of pollen cones are formed in April and May and reach maturity by mid-October in A. angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze and by mid-November in A. araucana. (Mol.) K. Koch. Characters of the mature pollen cones and microsporophylls between both taxa are clearly differentiated.Pollen grains are spheroidal-subspheroidal, inaperturate, and asaccate with granulate exine and a subequatorial annular area that corresponds to the sexine thickness. Sculpturing consists of irregularly dispersed granules that are sometimes fused to each other (A. angustifolia) or forming microrugulae (A. araucana). Microgranules and microspinules are also present. The pollen wall ultrastructure is formed by a granular ect exine and lamellated endexine. Granular elements in A. angustifolia are more loosely disposed, form more interstices, and are gradually smaller towards the endexine than in A. araucana. To asses the probable relationships within the family, we compared the pollen grains of the two Araucaria species with those of other extant genera (Agathis, Wollemia) and also with fossil pollen (Araucariacites, Balmeiopsis, Cyclusphaera, Dilwynites) attributed to Araucariaceae.

Pollen morphology of Oxalis species from Buenos Aires province (Argentina)

Pollen morphology and the degree of pollen variability within nine species and two varieties of Oxalis species from Buenos Aires Province (Argentina) were studied using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Oxalis pollen grain is generally 3-colpate and the shape is prolate spheroidal, oblate spheroidal or spheroidal. The exine is microreticulate. The brochi are circular to polygonal; brochi sizes decrease near the colpi. The colpus membrane observed in unacetolysed material, is crustate or granular. The colpus length varies within a species; the largest grains are produced in stamens with long filaments and the smallest ones in stamens with short filaments. Four pollen types are distinguished by means of LM, SEM and TEM. They are recognized mostly on the basis of their colpus membrane structure. In conclusion, the morphological similarity among Oxalis species is also reflected in their pollen morphology.

The application of palynology in forensic medicine / 法医学杂志

Palynology, one science of plant's pollen and spores, has been proven to be a new frontier discipline. Because of the characteristics of pollen and spores, such as small size, light weight, large amount, and difficult to be found, they can leave physical evidence and provide new clues to solve a case. Therefore palynology has a good prospect for practical application in forensic medicine. The paper intends to analyze the advantage and limitation of palynology in forensic medicine by reviewing its general characteristics, classification, morphology, and disseminating circadian rhythm. We hope to provide some reference to apply palynology in forensic medicine.

Ubisch bodies and pollen ontogeny in Oxalis articulata Savigny

The correlation between the ontogeny of Ubisch bodies and pollen development in Oxalis articulata was studied with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The ultrastructural changes observed during the different stages of development in the tapetal cells are related to Ubisch bodies, sporopollenin and pollen-kitt formation. The pro-orbicules have the appearance of lipid globuli and their formation is related to the endoplasmic reticulum of rough type (ERr). The lipid globules or pro-orbicules disappear in the mature Ubisch bodies, and the places that they occupied remain free of contents or with pollen-kitt.

Distribution of pectins in the pollen apertures of Oenothera hookeri: velans ster/+ster

Cell wall pectins are some of the most complex biopolymers known, and yet their functions remain largely mysterious. The aim of this paper was to deepen the study of the spatial pattern of pectin distribution in the aperture of Oenothera hookeri.velans ster/+ster fertile pollen. We used "in situ" immunocytochemical techniques at electron microscopy, involving monoclonal antibodies JIM5 and JIM7 directed against pectin epitopes in fertile pollen grains of Oenothera hookeri.velans ster/+ster. The same region was also analyzed by classical cytochemistry for polysaccharide detection. Immunogold labelling at the JIM7 epitope showed only in mature pollen labelling mainly located at the intine endo-aperture region. Cytoplasmic structures near the plasma membrane of the vegetative cell showed no labelling gold grains. In the same pollen stge the labelling at the JIM5 epitope was mostly confined to a layer located in the limit between the endexine and the ektexine at the level of the border of the oncus. Some tubuli at the base of the ektexine showed also an accumulation of gold particles. No JIM5 label was demonstrated in the aperture chamber and either in any cytoplasmic structure of the pollen grains. The immunocytochemical technique, when compared with the traditional methods for non-cellulose polysaccharide cytochemistry is fare more sensitive and allows the univocal determination of temporal and spatial location of pectins recognized by the JIM7 and JIM5 MAbs.

Palynological studies of some problematical medicinal plants of Pakistan

Morphology of pollen grains of each species is based on specimens selected at random. Proposed characters i.e. grain, shape of pollen grain, equatorial view, polar view, equatorial diameter [E], polar diameter [P], P/E ratio, length of colpus, exine surface, exine thickness, number of spines between colpi in each species were recorded for comparison. At species level, micro-morphological differences and distribution of surface pattern, shape and size of pollen have been found to exist. The pollen grains are consistently echinate, trizonocolporate. This study demonstrates the potential of pollen studies in distinguishing some taxonomic groups in the Asteraceae. The present research project is confined to the palynological studies of some of the problematical medicinal plants of Pakistan. Sixteen different genera: acacia, Agrimonia, Allium, Anthemis, Asparagus, Berberis, Centella, Colchicum, Cotula, Delphinium, Gentiana, Lactuca, Matricaria, Nigella, Phyllenthus, Viola have been examined in this study. Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis nobilis, and Cotula aurea have been differentiated with the help of palynology. The palynological studies of Lactuca dissecta [with white flowers] and Lactuca dissecta [with purple flowers] showed many characteristic differences

Estudio de la flora alergénica en el Valle de México. Relación con la sensibilización alimenticia de origen vegetal (primera parte) / Allergenic flora in the Valle de Mexico. Relation with food sensitivity of vegetable origen (Part 1)

Se realizo un analisis descriptivo de las plantas consideradas capaces de producir reaccion alergica por los granos de polen. Se trabajo con 106 especimenes de 30 familias y 79 generos, solo 57 especies contribuyeron a la coleccion con preparaciones fijas de polen acetolizado. Asimismo, se realizaron descripciones morfologicas del grano de polen. Se revisaron historias clinicas, seleccionandose a los pacientes que dieron reaccion positiva a algun polosn (1 101 pacientes) y reaccion positiva a algun alimento. Esto se corroboro con pruebas de ingestion alimentaria de origen vegetal. Las gramineas, leguminosas rosaceas y solanaceas fueron el grupo mas importante de alimentos de origen vegetal que dieron reaccion positiva por ingestion alimentaria y 37.52% a reaccion cutanea.