Seed micromorphology and its taxonomic evidence in subfamily Alsinoideae (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract

Seed micromorphology of 13 species, belonging to four genera of subfamily Alsinoideae (Caryophyllaceae) were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in order to assess their diagnostic significance at generic level and provide additional evidence on species delimitation, as well as correct identification and phylogenetic position. Genera and species of subfamily Alsinoideae exhibit great variation in ultrastructure and a high diversity of novel micromorphological characters were observed. Variation in seed shape, color, hilum, anticlinal wall, epidermal cell, cell surface, margins, and quantitative characters as length and width were studied in detail, compared, illustrated, and their taxonomic significant were discussed. Seed shapes of the species were classified as reniform, round, angular, subcircular, subreniform, and elliptical pyriform, with sub‐central, central, basal, and nearly basal hilum. Wavy, irregular, tetragonal, and elongated epidermal cells structure has been observed as an exomorphological character. The present findings show that the micromorphology of subfamily Alsinoideae provides taxonomic information and is helpful to distinguish different species. The results also explained that SEM morphology of seeds provide important data about affinity among taxa and give potential characters in delimitation of members of subfamily Alsinoideae at generic and species level. A principal component analysis allowed to highlight the most outsiders among seed micromorphology with a possible explanation. Taxonomic keys were developed based on micromorphological characters to delimit the species and useful for their quick identification within subfamily Alsinoideae.

Synthesis, characterization and use of iron oxide nano particles for antibacterial activity

“…SEM has proven to be very valuable for the observation of the surface morphology of material, mainly due to improved depth of field and high resolution, which is not available under light microscopy (Butt et al, ; Esfandani‐Bozchaloyi & Zaman, ; Shah, Ahmad, Zafar, Malik, et al, ; Shah, Ahmad, Zafar, Razzaq, et al, ; Ullah, Zafar, Ahmad, Shah, et al, ; Ullah, Zafar, Ahmad, Dilbar, et al, ; Ullah, Zafar, Amhad, Sultana, et al, ). In the last few years the SEM has made a massive impact on diverse branches of biological research (Ashfaq et al, ; Bahadur et al, ; Shah, Celik et al, ; Sufyan et al, ; Ullah, Papini, et al, ; Ullah, Zaman, et al, ).…”

Systematic approach to the correct identification of Asplenium dalhousiae (Aspleniaceae) with their medicinal uses

“…Anatomical features are significant for the identification of problematic taxa at species level in some cases (Shah, Ahmad, Zafar, Malik, et al, ; Shah, Ahmad, Zafar, Razzaq, et al, ; Shah, Celik, et al, ; Ullah, Zafar, Ahmad, Shah, et al, ; Ullah, Zafar, Amhad, Sultana, et al, ). Taxonomic identification of species are incomplete without micromorphological characteristics of epidermal and pollen morphological (Ahmad et al, ; Attar, Esfandani‐Bozchaloyi, Mirtadzadini, & Ullah, ; Butt et al, ; Esfandani‐Bozchaloyi & Zaman, ; Ullah et al, a; Ullah et al, ; Ullah, Zafar, Ahmad, Shah, et al, ). Foliar epidermal characteristics carry important information for the delimitations and species identification in different plant groups.…”

Taxonomic study of one generic and two new species record to the flora of Pakistan using multiple microscopic techniques

“…Previous studies adopted microscopic techniques for addition of new species record, plant systematics, anatomical, micro, and macro morphological studies and finding variations among medicinal plants authenticity (Bahadur et al, ; Bahadur et al, ; David, Ain, Ahmad, Zaman, & Jahan, ; Esfandani‐Bozchaloyi & Zaman, ; Raei Niaki et al, ; Shah, Ahmad, Zafar, & Zaman, ; Shah et al, ; Shah et al, ; Shah et al, ; Shah et al, : Ullah et al, ). To introduce new species in Pakistan flora, the taxonomist and scientists contributed in this regard.…”