Study on seed morphometry of seven threatened Himalayan orchids exhibiting varied life modes

Verma, Jagdeep; Kusum, .; Thakur, Kranti; Sembi, Jaspreet K.; Vij, S. P.

doi:10.1080/12538078.2012.750582

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The shape of the seeds is also thought to have phylogenetic significance. Fusiform seeds that are found in all of the subfamilies (Arditti et al, 1979Healey et al, 1980;Rasmussen, 1995;Verma et al, 2012; present study) appear to be basic in orchids, from which all other seed shapes might have evolved. Arditti et al (1979) and Vij et al (1992) demonstrated that seeds show the least shape variability and are usually fusiform in primitive orchids (Cypripediodeae) but exhibit great variations (fusiform, ovoid, elliptical, filamentous, cylindrical) in advanced epidendroid orchids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…[E. reptans (Kuntze) Makino]. According to Clifford and Smith (1969), Vij et al (1992), Rasmussen (1995), Swamy et al (2004), and Verma et al (2012), the seed sizes show a direct correlation with plant habit; epiphytic orchids generally possess smaller seeds as compared to the terrestrials. Yoder et al (2010) also explained that the seeds of epiphytic orchids are smaller, lighter, and more porous than the ground-growing ones.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Swamy et al (2004) also reported the presence of longitudinally oriented and irregularly shaped testa cells in another species of Liparis (L. elliptica Wight). Earlier, Clifford and Smith (1969), Vij et al (1992), and Verma et al (2012) suggested that quadrilateral testa cells are found commonly in ground-growing species, and they are generally fusiform in epiphytes. However, such differences were not seen presently.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lowest L/W value was recorded in ovoid seeds of Androcorys monophylla (Figure 1). In a study on some Himalayan orchids, Verma et al (2012) also recorded the lowest L/W ratio in its closely allied species, Herminium monorchis (L.) R.Br. According to Arditti et al (1979), the relative degree of truncation of orchid seeds is directly correlated with an increase in their length rather than their width.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Western Himalaya supports more ground-growing species, whereas epiphytes dominate in Eastern Himalaya. Despite their rich diversity in the Himalaya, only a few orchids have so far been studied for their detailed seed morphometric characteristics (Garg et al, 1992;Vij et al, 1992;Rani et al, 1993;Sharma et al, 2004;Verma et al, 2012). Furthermore, these investigations (except Sharma et al, 2004) lacked statistical analyses of the data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Study on seed morphometry of some threatened Western Himalayan orchids

Verma¹,

Sharma²,

Thakur³

et al. 2014

Turk J Bot

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Physical seed characteristics of 32 threatened Western Himalayan orchids belonging to 23 genera of 3 subfamilies were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The species showed remarkable seed shape variations (fusiform, spathulate, ovoid, filiform) irrespective of their taxonomic position. Epiphytes produced relatively small-sized seeds compared to their terrestrial, lithophytic, or mycoheterotrophic counterparts. Seeds were truncated (length/width < 6.0) in 27 species, and were mostly elongated (length/width = 19.957 ± 1.459) in the orchidoid species Goodyera biflora (Lindl.) Hook.f. The number or size of testa cells was found fairly consistent at the genus level, and their walls were straight, sinuous, or undulate. Periclinal walls possessed vertical or oblique ornamentation in 6 species, which is of taxonomic implication. Embryos were rather tiny and most of the seed space (even >90% in 7 species) was occupied by air. The highest seed to embryo volume ratio was recorded in terrestrial Liparis odorata (Willd.) Lindl. and the lowest in epiphytic Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume, both of which are members of the advanced Epidendroideae. Seed characteristics are important in elucidating taxonomic, phylogenetic, and phytogeographic relationships among different orchid taxa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Study on seed morphometry of some threatened Western Himalayan orchids

Verma¹,

Sharma²,

Thakur³

et al. 2014

Turk J Bot

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Seed morphometry and ultrastructure studies on some Turkish orchids (Orchidaceae)

Şeker

Akbulut

Şenel

2021

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Orchid seeds have great morphological variations that imply the phylogenetic relationship of the species depending on the biodiversity of the family or act as an adaptation to seed dispersal mechanisms depending on the life form. This study aims to both describe and analyse the qualitative and quantitative traits of 12 Turkish orchids representing epidendroids and orchidoids in detail to investigate which properties are diagnostic among these taxa and also reveal if seed properties are differentiated in relationship to the ecological preferences of the studied species. Both qualitative and quantitative features were determined, and measurements were obtained using light and scanning electron microscopy. We applied the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster analysis and canonical discriminant analysis to the qualitative and quantitative traits. Furthermore, we analyzed the same orchid seed in correlation with ecological traits such as habitats and the elevation preferences of species. This study confirmed the usefulness of both data sets for effectively assessing the variation of orchid seeds. Although the seed characters such as the cell shape differences in the chalazal or medial region, seed sizes, cell numbers on the longitudinal axis, and periclinal wall ornamentation are taxonomically conserved, some other characteristics such as seed shape, the absence of periclinal wall ornamentation, and larger embryo size imply ecological adaptation or developmental achievement for germination. This study confirms the diagnostic value of both qualitative and quantitative seed features, which are effective in explaining the orchid seed variety.

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