Use of scanning electron microscopy to analyze sculpturing pattern and internal features of pollen grain wall in some members of Astragaleae (subfamily: Papilionoidae).

Palynological features of tribe Astagaleae L. have been observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), to assess features that can be used to re-examine the placement and taxonomic position of tribe. The palynomorph attributes of 10 species included in three genera of Astragaleae (Astragalus L., Glycyrrhiza L., and Oxytropis DC.) are investigated. The assignment of genus Oxytropis in tribe Astragaleae was also reevaluated based on pollen characters. Pollen appear to be prolate, prolate-spheroidal, and subprolate. Polar axis size (P) varies from 31.3 µm ±1 to 17.5 µm ±1.4 and equatorial axis size (E) varies from 22.2 µm ±1.8 to 13.1 µm ±0.9. Prominent apertures found consistently dispersed along the surface of pollen. Three kinds of ornamentation pattern were recorded, that is, reticulate or reticulate-perforate and perforate. The studied species display variation in equatorial and polar diameter, aperturation and sculpturing pattern, exine thickness, and pollen shape. On the basis of descriptive pollen features, a dichotomous taxonomic key and UPGMA analysis has been made for effortless and quick identification. The study concluded that disparities of the entire features are typically unrelenting and concerned with the species and shows potential systematic significance. The combination of palynological attributes in association with additional traits has prospective for systematic identification at species and genus level.

Palynological investigation of lactiferous flora (Apocynaceae) of District Rawalpindi, Pakistan, using light and scanning electron microscopy.

This was the first comprehensive pollen micromorphological investigation of lactiferous flora (Apocynaceae) of District Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The pollen morphology of 10 species of the family Apocynaceae was observed and documented using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen was found subspheroidal in shape in most of the species, however peroblate shape was noted in Vinca major. Exine sculpturing patterns (psilate, rugulate, scabrate, and microreticulate) were observed. The result indicated that exine ornamentation of Apocynaceae taxa is systematically informative at generic and species levels. Most of the species have tricolporate type pollen but tetraporate pollen was also observed in Trachelospermum jasminoides and tetracolpate in V. major. Minimum equatorial diameter was noted in Carissa edulis (27.13 µm) and maximum in V. major (108.25 µm). Similarly, maximum exine thickness was found in Cascabela thevetia (9.5 µm). In the present findings, the pollen morphological data are compared with available other pollen studies to evaluate the taxonomic value of pollen traits in Apocynaceae taxa by using multiple microscopic techniques. Furthermore, molecular and phylogenetic studies were recommended to strengthen the systematics of Apocynaceae taxa.

Comparative light and scanning electron microscopy in authentication of adulterated traded medicinal plants.

The medicinal plants are utilized globally considering the cheap and chemical free source, but their correct identification and authentication is prerequisite for safety and efficacy of plant-based medicines. The present study encompassed traded medicinal plants (16) with high therapeutic value from diverse families like Brassicaceae, Berberidaceae, Malvaceae, Salicaceae, Myrtaceae, Papilionaceae, Ascelpiadaceae, Colchicaceae, Violaceae, and Vitaceae for detailed microscopic study of characters that is, morphology, pollen shape and sizes, P/E ratio, pore length and width, spine length, colpi dimensions, and exine sculpture pattern. The plants showed noteworthy differences in microscopy of Wattakaka volubilis having pollinia, translator and corpusculum like structures while pores were visible in Colchicum luteum, Alcea rosea, and Hibiscus syriacus. The spines were observed in Centipeda minima, A. rosea, and H. syriacus being dimorphic spines in A. rosea and monomorphic in H. syriacus. The exine sculpturing pattern was reticulate in mostly studied plants however distinctive exine pattern was noted in Berberis aristata and Berberis lyceum. The highest polar diameter, equatorial diameter and exine thickness among studied plants were observed in H. syriacus (161 µm), C. luteum (50 µm) and Vitis jacquemontii (1.10), respectively. Thus, microscopy of medicinal plants in addition to other taxonomic evidence offers a supportive skill in authentication, consequently utilization by local consumers and pharmaceutical industries.