Pollen morphology of the alangiaceae

This paper presents a pollen-morphological study of Alangium, a genus mainly restricted to the tropics of the Old World, of which 18 of the 19 known species were studied. The pollen grains, studied with the use of a light microscope, a transmission electron microscope and a scanning electron microscope, were classified into 15 pollen types, to which a key is given. Comparison of fossil and recent grains produced some information about both the evolutionary trends in the characters of the pollen grains and the phytogeography of Alangium.     

Genetic relationship among species in the genus Sonneratia in China as revealed by inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis was used to establish the genetic relationship among six Sonneratia species in China. A total of 100 primers were screened, of which 11 polymorphic and informative patterns were selected to determine the genetic relationship. Four hundred and eighty five DNA bands were amplified, among which 481 bands (99.18%) were polymorphic. The average number of DNA bands amplified by each primer was 44. Similarity coefficients were calculated and a dendrogram was constructed by using UPGMA algorithm. The six Sonneratia species were divided into two major groups. Group I consisted of Sonneratia caseolaris, Sonneratia × gulngai, Sonneratia alba, and Group II included Sonneratia × hainanensis, Sonneratia ovata and Sonneratia apetala. In Group I, S. × gulngai was close to S. alba, and in Group II, S. × hainanensis was close to S. ovata. The genetic relationships estimated by the polymorphism of ISSR markers are basically in agreement with those previously inferred by morphological data. Thus, ISSR approach is a reliable marker system that can be used to study genetic relationship in the genus Sonneratia.     

Northern Hemisphere megafossil of Dacrycarpus (Podocarpaceae) from the Miocene of South China and its evolutionary and paleoecological implications

The modern genus Dacrycarpus (Endl.) de Laub. of the family Podocarpaceae, containing nine species, is mainly distributed in tropical mountain rainforests of the southwestern Pacific region, ranging from New Zealand to low‐latitude Asia. This genus has abundant fossil records in both hemispheres, but all the known megafossils were limited to Australasia and South America. Here we report on Dacrycarpus guipingensis sp. nov. from the Miocene Erzitang Formation of Guangxi, South China. This is the first megafossil of Dacrycarpus in the Northern Hemisphere. The new species is represented by mummified dimorphic foliage, ovuliferous shoots, and a male cone with in situ pollen. It resembles the extant Dacrycarpus imbricatus (Blume) de Laub., which is common in rainforests from southern China and northern Myanmar to Fiji. This paper presents the first data on the anatomical structure of seed cone and exine ultrastructure of Dacrycarpus in situ pollen grains from a fossil material by using computed tomography scanning and ultrathin sectioning. For comparative purpose, data on the pollen morphology and ultrastructure were obtained for modern D. imbricatus for the first time. The D. guipingensis fossils strongly suggest the Miocene arrival of Dacrycarpus in Asia from the Southern Hemisphere. Based on the modern ecological niche and related fossil elements, this fossil locality was probably covered by conifer–broad‐leaved mountain rainforests during the Miocene.     

中国五加科花粉形态研究

本文对我国五加科(Araliaceae)植物21个属、34种、2变种的花粉形态进行了详细的观察研究, 每一个属均选择1至2个代表种进行电镜扫描。从花粉学方面进一步探讨了各属间的亲缘关系, 分类位置、以及分属的界限等问题。     

The first Loranthaceae fossils from Africa

An ongoing re-investigation of the early Miocene Saldanha Bay (South Africa) palynoflora, using combined light and scanning electron microscopy (single grain method), is revealing several pollen types new to the African fossil record. One of the elements identified is Loranthaceae pollen. These grains represent the first and only fossil record of Loranthaceae in Africa. The fossil pollen grains resemble those produced by the core Lorantheae and are comparable to recent Asian as well as some African taxa/lineages. Molecular and fossil signals indicate that Loranthaceae dispersed into Africa via Asia sometime during the Eocene. The present host range of African Loranthaceae and the composition of the palynoflora suggest that the fossil had a range of potential host taxa to parasitise during the early Miocene in the Saldanha Bay region.     

紫草亚科附地菜族的花粉形态研究

本文用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜系统观察了附地菜族5个属26种植物花粉形态。五属是附地菜属、车前紫草属、滨紫草属、山茄子属和皿果草属。观察证明属间花粉形态有明显的差异。花粉资料为族内属的划分和皿果草属的建立提出了花粉学证据。     

The ultrastructure of fossil dispersed monosulcate pollen from the Early Cretaceous of Transbaikalia,Russia

The general morphology, surface sculpturing, and exine ultrastructure have been studied in dispersed monosulcate pollen from the Early Cretaceous of Transbaikalia, Russia. The pollen grains dominate the palynological assemblage extracted from coal deposits of the Khilok Formation in the Buryat Republic, which also contain ginkgoalean leaves of Baierella averianovii as the only constituent of the assemblage of plant megafossils. The relationship between the pollen grains and ginkgoalean leaves from this autochthonous burial is hypothesised on the basis of taphonomical analysis and palaeobiogeographical data. It is shown that the ectexine of the pollen grains includes a thick solid tectum, a thin granular infratectum and a thin foot layer; the endexine is fine-grained, slightly more electron-dense than the ectexine, and is preserved only in places. The distal aperture is formed by a thinning of the exine. No analogous ultrastructure has been described so far in fossil pollen grains of this morphotype studied ultrastructurally from in situ material. For comparison, we also studied the exine ultrastructure of pollen grains Ginkgo biloba. The fossil pollen is not identical to pollen of extant G. biloba, but shows several significant similarities in the exine ultrastructure, which does not contradict the presumable ginkgoalean affinity of the fossil pollen.     

Storage in an Organic Solvent as a Means for Preserving Viability of Pollen Grains

Pollen grains of Lilium auratum, Lilium longiflorum, Camellia sasanqua and Impatiens balsamina were soaked in various kinds of organic solvents such as acetone, benzene, petroleum benzine, benzyl alcohol, butanol, ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, diethyl ether, petroleum ether and choroform, and stored at 4-6 C for 24 hr. All pollen grains except in benzyl alcohol showed evidence of viability, and grains which had been stored in acetone, benzene, petroleum benzine, diethyl ether, petroleum ether and chloroform produced longer pollen tubes than grains of fresh pollen, especially Camellia sasanqua, whose pollen grew tubes 3 times as long as those of a control. Lilium auratum pollen grains had retained their viability after 80 days in acetone, benzene, petroleum benzine, diethyl ether and petroleum ether, and generative nuclei in pollen thus stored divided to form 2 sperm nuclei in artificial culture.     

我国旋花科植物花粉形态的研究

本文用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对16属46种2变种的旋花科植物花粉形态进行了观察。本科的花粉为多类型。3沟为基本的萌发孔类型。根据萌发孔的形状、位置和数目,本科花粉可分为3沟、4-11沟、散沟和散孔4个类型。根据孢粉学资料、本文对菟丝子属(Cuscuta)在旋花科中的分类位置及其本科萌发孔的演化趋向等问题进行了讨论。     

后蕊苣苔属的花粉形态

本文用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜系统观察了苦苣苔科后蕊苣苔属的花粉形态,本属花粉粒为近球形,稍长或稍扁,具三拟孔沟,个别种具四拟孔沟的萌发孔类型,外壁表面具网状纹饰,网脊光滑或具小刺。根据网脊宽度。网眼形状以及网纹明显程度而将本属花粉分为三个类群.1.网脊较宽,宽度不均匀,网脊宽度大于网眼直径,包括的植物种类有Opithandra sinohenryi,O.primoloides和O.fargesii等三种;2.网脊较窄,宽度均匀,包括的种类是O.dalzielii,O.obtusidentata,O.dinghushnnensis和O.cinerea等4种;3.网不明显,小刺突出,具这种纹饰的植物只有O.acaulis一种。     

Abnormalities in pistil development result in low seed set in Leymus chinensis (Poaceae)

Megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in Leymus chinensis and the callose deposition during these developmental processes were investigated. In addition, morphological and histochemical studies of pistils at anthesis and pollen behavior on the stigmas after pollination were examined. The results indicate that embryo sac development and callose deposition pattern of this grass follow the archetypal Polygonum type. Nearly half of the pistils developed abnormally in megagametogenesis, while only 8.6% of abnormalities occurred in megasporogenesis. Over 47% of pistils at anthesis were abnormal in appearance. By 24 h after anthesis, many pollen grains had germinated on the stigmas of normal pistils. The high percentage of abnormal pistils and their low capacity to capture pollen grains may be the main factor in the low seed set of L. chinensis.     

中国柽柳科植物花粉形态的研究

本文用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察了分布于我国的4属30种柽柳科植物花粉形态。并用透射电镜研究了柽柳属的代表种, Tamarix elongata外壁内部的超微结构。本科花粉为三沟, 少数属种为三拟孔沟。根据扫描电镜观察, 柽柳属花粉外壁表面具粗网状纹饰和细网状纹饰, 以及界于这两个类型之间的过渡类型。水柏枝属外壁表面具粗网状纹饰, 细网状纹饰, 小穿孔以及小的蠕虫状突起。红沙属和枇杷柴属均为细网状纹饰。 本科柽柳属花粉与杨柳科中柳属的花粉特征较相似, 本文提出了它们之间的区别。     

Diverse epiphyllous fungi on Cunninghamia leaves from the Oligocene of South China and their paleoecological and paleoclimatic implications

The unique co-occurrence of thyriothecia belonging to three fossil genera of epiphyllous fungi, Stomiopeltites Alvin & Muir (Micropeltidaceae), Callimothallus Dilcher, and Trichothyrites Rosendahl (Microthyriaceae), are reported on the leaves of the same host plant, Cunninghamia shangcunica Kodrul, Gordenko & Sokolova from the Oligocene Shangcun Formation of the Maoming Basin, South China. In China, Stomiopeltites is identified for the first time, Callimothallus is known from the Oligocene and Miocene of Guangxi and Zhejiang provinces, and Trichothyrites previously has been found only in the Eocene palynological assemblages of the Maoming Basin. The presence of abundant and diverse epiphyllous micromycetes, together with the taxonomic composition of the Shangcun megaflora and pollen assemblage, as well as quantitative climatic estimates obtained using Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program, confirm the existence of a warm and humid climate in this region during the late early Oligocene. The geographic and stratigraphic distributions, comparisons with extant analogues, as well as ecological and paleoclimatic implications of the fossil fungi are discussed.     

中国东北柳属花粉形态及其系统学研究

本研究对中国东北地区产柳属17个组的29种, 6变种, 1变型的花粉进行了光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察。结果表明, 同一种的花粉粒形态相对稳定, 花粉粒的萌发孔类型, 表面网状纹饰类型及纹饰的亚显微形态, 及外壁厚度等特征与组的关系较密切, 而在组内各种间趋于一致;种间自然杂交种的花粉粒形态特征, 表现其亲本的中间类型。聚类分析结果表明, 五蕊柳与大白柳组进化关系密切。     

杉科植物花粉形态的研究

杉科(Taxodiaceac)是裸子植物的重要科之一。全科共有10属16种。本文用光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察了本科7属10种植物花粉,并用透射电镜研究了其中5个属代表种的外壁内部的超微结构。     

Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in pollen grains in order to characterize plant functional groups and photosynthetic pathway types

Measurements of delta(13)C, delta(15)N and C : N ratios on modern pollen grains from temperate plants, including whole grains as well as extracted sporopollenin, were analysed in order to characterize physiological plant types at the pollen level and to determine the variation of these parameters in modern pollen grains of the same climatic area. Measurements are presented for 95 batches of whole modern pollen from 58 temperate species and on the stable fraction of modern pollen grains, chemically extracted sporopollenin, for two modern species. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and cross-polarization and magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) sporopollenin spectra were conducted in parallel. C(3) and C(4) plants can be separated by delta(13)C measurements based on pollen. Probabilistic assignments to plant functional groups (herbaceous, deciduous woody, evergreen woody) of C(3) plants by the means of a discriminant analysis can be made for C : N ratios and for delta(13)C. The results are related to other studies on sporopollenin in order to use this method in future work on fossil samples. Stable isotope measurements on pollen allow improved pollen diagrams, including forms that cannot be differentiated at species level, increasing the accuracy and resolution of plant physiological type distribution in quaternary and older fossil sediments.     

Ultrastructure and diversity of recent and fossil zona-aperturate pollen grains

A survey of recent and fossil zona-aperturate pollen grains within the angiosperms was undertaken. Zona-aperturate pollen (with complete ring-like apertures) has been evolved independently in several genera of basal angiosperm families (Nymphaeaceae, Eupomatiaceae, Annonaceae, Monimiaceae, Atherospermataceae) and monocots (Araceae, Iridaceae, Laxmanniaceae, Arecaceae, and Rapateaceae). The special case of the eudicot Limnanthes (Limnanthaceae) is discussed. New examples of recent and fossil fully zonate pollen are presented; a noteworthy new example are Scrophulariaceae, with Pedicularis; our fossil examples show affinities either to Nymphaeaceae, or Araceae, or Iridaceae, or cannot be related to an extant taxon. The zona-aperturate pollen grains differ in ornamentation and stratification mostly in the respect of the aperture areas, but sometimes also outside the aperture. The question of polarity is settled only for some taxa because of the frequent lack of tetrad observations. A ring-like aperture may divide the pollen grains in symmetric halves, or if running asymmetrically, divides the pollen grain in two more or less unequal halves; the presence of clearly unequal halves gives a strong argument to assume an equatorial ring in such cases where tetrad configurations were not available. The zona-aperturate condition may be a functional benefit in wet environments: while in dry pollen the apertural ring is completely closed, in wet or very moist realm it expands greatly, and the pollen tube can be formed quickly and everywhere in this area.     

The earliest fossil evidence of the Hamamelidaceae: Late Cretaceous (Turonian) inflorescences and fruits of Altingioideae

Fossilized pistillate inflorescences, fruits, and pollen grains from the Turonian (～90 million years before present) of New Jersey are described as a new genus, Microaltingia, in the family Hamamelidaceae. The fossils are remarkably preserved in exceptional detail. Several morphological and anatomical characters suggest affinities with Hamamelidaceae. These include capitate inflorescences, florets with a hypanthium, two-carpellate gynoecia, perigynous flowers, tricolpate reticulate pollen, a three-layered carpel wall, scalariform perforation plates with oblique end walls, and scalariform and opposite/alternate intervascular pitting. The gross morphology of pistillate inflorescences, unisexual flowers, phyllome structure, numerous ovules per carpel, and mode of carpel dehiscence indicate affinities with subfamily Altingioideae, which includes the modern genera Liquidambar and Altingia. Cladistic analysis using a previously published morphological matrix and scoring the fossil for available characters supports the position of the fossil as a sister taxon of modern Altingioideae. Although the fossil exhibits a mosaic of characters found within modern Hamamelidaceae, it is not identical to any modern taxon. Based on cladistic analysis, the fossil appears to be a basal "altingioid" that lacks the derived pollen found in extant Altingioideae and retains the more plesiomorphic tricolpate pollen found in the rest of Hamamelidaceae. The floral characters of the fossils, including phyllomes with stomata, short and straight styles, and small perprolate pollen grains, also indicate the possibility of insect pollination.     

利用昆虫携带的花粉初探西藏入侵植物印加孔雀草在当地传粉网络中的地位

入侵植物在新生境中成功定殖后, 通过利用当地传粉昆虫促进繁殖可以更好地保证种群的扩张, 但是入侵植物在当地传粉网络中的角色和地位仍不是很清楚。本文利用西藏近年发现的入侵植物印加孔雀草(Tagetes minuta), 分析其访花昆虫所携带的植物花粉种类, 构建了植物花粉-传粉者网络, 探讨印加孔雀草快速入侵和扩张的可能机制。结果表明印加孔雀草为泛化传粉系统, 共有13种昆虫访花, 其中12种携带有印加孔雀草花粉, 所有花粉中印加孔雀草花粉数量占比为89.89%。12种印加孔雀草传粉昆虫中, 4种泛化传粉昆虫(1种蜂、2种食蚜蝇和1种蝇)是其主要传粉昆虫。本研究揭示印加孔雀草在较短时间内已经成功利用多种当地泛化传粉昆虫为其授粉, 已顺利融入当地的传粉网络, 今后需要更加重视对印加孔雀草的防控。