Background and Aims
Macro- and micro-morphology of seeds are diagnostic characteristics of importance in delimiting taxa in Allium (Amaryllidaceae). However, there is no consensus on phylogenetic significance of testa cell characteristics and whether they reflect different evolutionary levels recognized in Allium.
Methods
The seeds of 95 species (98 samples) representing 15 subgenera and 58 sections of Allium were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for such traits as periclinal wall surface area of ten testa cells, distance between testa cells (macro-morphology), testa cell shapes, arrangement and structure of anticlinal and periclinal walls (micro-morphology). The data matrix was subjected to cladistic analysis. The produced phylogenetic tree was examined against the molecular tree obtained from publically available ITS sequences.
Key Results
The periclinal wall surface area of ten testa cells and the distance between them, examined for the first time, were found useful for delimitation of species in Allium. Based on seed macro- and micro-morphology, we present a taxonomic key and a hypothetical reconstruction of the migration routes during the early stages of evolution of Allium.
Conclusions
The ancestors of Allium originated in an area bounded by the Caucasus, Central Asia and Iran. The seed testa morphology-based evolutionary state of a species is determined by two parameters: the shape of the periclinal walls and curvature of the anticlinal walls.
Tulips are bulbous geophytes that have considerable commercial value worldwide. This genus primarily originated in the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai mountain ranges, which surround the Ferghana Valley. The Ferghana Valley is home to five sections of the genus Tulipa L, represented by 23 taxa (22 species). However, there is a lack of detailed information about the distribution of Tulipa species in the natural geographic area of the Ferghana Valley. Therefore, to address this knowledge gap, we comprehensively investigated the spatial distribution of all Tulipa species in the valley. To assess the spatial distribution, the entire area was divided into 32 squares consisting of four latitudinal and eight longitudinal zones. The results showed that latitudinal zones B and C with 15 and 13 taxa, respectively, along with five longitudinal zones (A5, B3, B4, C2, and C3) with 5 to 10 taxa were hotspots for this genus. Additionally, the spatial distributions of the species in terms of the corresponding state borders, mountain ranges, endemism, and conservation issues were assessed. The findings of this study provide comprehensive information about the distribution of Tulipa species to assist with conservation initiatives ultimately to ensure the survival of various species.
Uzbekistan is widely regarded as one of the most diversified sources of the species of Tulipa L. The present study provides the synopsis of the genus Tulipa in this area. According to literature reviews and field surveys, this genus includes 33 species (34 taxa) distributed in Uzbekistan. In this paper, more than 3,500 herbarium specimens deposited in the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH), Komarov Botanical Institute St. Petersburg, Russia (LE), Moscow State University, Russia (MW), Herbarium of the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction in Almaty, Kazakhstan (AA) and Herbarium of the Institute of Biology in Bishkek (FRU) were utilized to provide comprehensive genus coverage. The evaluation of their distribution and taxonomic classification were described. The taxonomical analyses, diagnostic keys at sectional and species levels as well as morphologic illustrations of most species distributed in Uzbekistan are provided.
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