Use of Pollen Morphology Traits for Identifying Species of Centaurea L. Asteraceae in Kurdistan-Iraq

Abstract

The polleniferous material of Centaurea taxa grow in Kurdistan-Iraq was collected. Samples were tested using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). In the polar view, pollen grain outlines are mostly triangular or triangular-circular. In equatorial view, the elliptic shape is common, while circulars or semicircular shapes are rare. The exine sculpture is scabrate, and the tectum is perforate. Number of sculpture microspinules/ µm², and their heights together with the number of wall perforations provide significant characters for taxa delimitation. Pollen grains of all species are of medium size, very few of some species pollen are larger or smaller in size. Species producing subprolate pollen shape is common, while oblate spheroidal and Prolate spheroidal shapes are less common. The principal component analysis and the discriminant analysis can recognize 65.478% and 87.54% of the total variability respectively; moreover, the discriminant function can correctly classify 125 or 78.125% out of 160 observations for pollen traits.

Taxonomic Characteristics and Phytochemicals of Centaurea bruguieriana (DC.) Hand-Mazz (Asreraceae) From Western Desert of Iraq

“…Epidermis characteristics ( including stomatal density and trichome density) were studied using Stripped off epidermis method mentioned in [25]. Pollen grain was studied according to [26,27], All micrographs were taken by using light microscope and Sony digital camera. Chemical tests were carried out to insure the presence or absence of the active compound class in the studied plant as described by [28].…”

Taxonomic study of pollen grains for five species of Fabaceae Family

“…The morphology of pollen grains from 15 species within five genera of the Fabaceae family, including Colutea cilicica Boiss. & Balansa and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. were examined using a light microscope by [11]. Their observations revealed that the pollen grains were predominantly monad and colporate across all genera, except for Spartium junceum, Anagyris foetida, which displayed a colpate pattern.…”