Anatomical, Palynological and Biochemical Studies on Gundelia dersim Vitek, Yüce & Ergin (Asteraceae) an Endemic of Turkey

Abstract

The Asteraceae family is the largest in the plant kingdom in the world. Gundelia is a genus that belongs to this family and is commonly referred to as the kenger name in Anatolia. Gundelia dersim is also an endemic species defined from Eastern Anatolia. In this study, anatomical, palynological and biochemical properties of G. dersim were discussed. When the anatomical structure of G. dersim was examined, it was seen that the mesophyll type, in which the midrib of the leaf was developed, was unifacial. There are too many sclerenchymatic cells in the vascular bundles. In addition, laticifer elements were seen on the stem and leaf. Also, it was observed that the pollen of the species is in echinate ornamentation and pollen grains are radial symmetrical, isopolar, tricolporate. Following biochemical analysis, pigment analysis, total carbohydrate and lipid peroxidation were performed. The chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b content of the species in both stem and leaf were analyzed, and the most chlorophyll content was found in the leaf. With this research, for the first time, a detailed anatomical investigation was conducted on the genus Gundelia, and it is a current view with the first consideration of the anatomical, palynological and biochemical aspects of G. dersim.