Pollen types in Southern New World Convolvulaceae and their taxonomic significance

Pollen morphology from 143 collections representing 11 genera and 75 species of native South American Convolvulaceae was analyzed with LM and SEM. Exine structure and sculpture allow to distinguish three main types, in two of these types some subtypes were recognized. 1) Tectate, microechinate-perforate exine, with ramified columellae. On the basis of apertures three subtypes were distinguished: tricolpate in Aniseia, Bonamia, Convolvulus, Cressa, Dichondra, Merremia and Jacquemontia blanchetii; penta-hexacolpate in Merremia umbellata; and pantoporate with elliptic and circular pores, in Calystegia. 2) Tectate, microechinate-perforate exine with microspines and single columellae in concordant pattern, relates pantocolpate pollen of Jacquemontia and Evolvulus. From pollen data generic status of J. blanchetii should be considered. 3) Semitectate, echinate or gemmate, microechinate-microreticulate exine with single columellae is exclusive of pantoporate pollen of Ipomoea. Four subtypes were recognized in this genera, which are discussed in relation to Austins infrageneric classification.     

Pollen morphology ofPyrola and its taxonomic significance

Pollen from 152 collections representing 16Pyrola species was examined with LM, SEM and TEM. The genusPyrola is stenopalynous in having tetrads and 3-colporoidate grains. However, a continuous and serial variation in the exine sculpture and the tetrad diameter (D) was revealed within the genus. Křísa's system ofPyrola (1971) was re-examined in the light of these palynological characters which may have a taxonomic significance, as well as the external morphology. P. minor (only member of the subgenusAmelia), which is characterized by having small (D=30–35 μm) pollen tetrads with verrucate sculpture must best be placed near sectionPyrola of the subgenusPyrola. P. faurieana must be segregated from sectionChlorantha and together withP. media placed intermediate between the subgenusAmelia and sectionPyrola of the subgenusPyrola based on their larger (D=ca. 40 μm) pollen tetrads with verrucate sculpture. Two series of sectionChlorantha excludingP. faurieana are differentiated in the exine sculpture. Therefore, they are regarded as the distinct taxonomic groups. SectionScotophylla is characterized by having psilate sculptured pollen tetrads, which indicates that its sectional rank is sufficiently asserted. The evolutionary trend in the exine sculpture from verrucate through rugulate to psilate is suggested withinPyrola.     

Pollen characteristics of New Zealand Gnaphalieae (Compositae) and their taxonomic significance II. Tem

Pollen ultrastructure has been investigated in 35 taxa of Gnaphalieae (Compositae), predominantly from New Zealand. Pollen grains of all taxa examined are tectate‐columellate and caveate. The characters regarded as particularly distinctive include variability of columellar form and internal organisation of the columellae. The importance of pollen characters in the classification of the New Zealand Gnaphalieae is discussed. The species of Haastia, characterised by senecioid pollen and internal tecta, do not belong to the Gnaphalieae. In the species with helianthoid pollen and sub‐columellae five different columellae types can be distinguished.     

五味子科植物花形态及其系统学意义

用光镜和扫描电镜观察了五味子科Ｓｃｈｉｓａｎｄｒａｃｅａｅ２３种、６变种和１变型的９１份花粉的形态。其中５ 、４变种和１变型的花粉形态为首次报道。该科花粉为单花粉,异极,辐射对称,扁球形至超扁球形,其萌发沟的排列格局在被子植物中是独一无二的。若按萌发沟的数目划分,该科花粉可分为３沟型和６沟型两个类型。外壁为网状纹饰,网眼的大小和网脊的宽度与花的形态有一定相关性。研究结果不支持Ｐｒａｇｌｏｗｓｋｉ对     

Pollen morphology and its evolutionary significance in Hemerocallis (Liliaceae)

Pollen morphology of 10 species of Hemerocallis was investigated with LM and SEM. In addition to pollen with reticulate sexine, a new verrucate sexine pattern is found in three Chinese endemic species, H. plicata, H. forrestii and H. nana . Between the two typical sexine patterns, there are transitional variants. Also, a new pollen shape, boat-shaped-elliptic, is observed exclusively in H. nana , besides-oblong shape in other species. Phylogenetically, the common reticulate sexine pattern would be more primitive than the verrucate one. The typical reticulate sexine pattern would be basic, from which transitional variants would have derived and finally led to the typical verrucate pattern. Similarly, the common boat-shaped-oblong pollen would be more primitive than the -elliptic one, from which the latter would have derived during phylogenetic development.     

Pollen morphology of Hosta Tratt. in China and its taxonomic significance

In this study, pollen morphology of 11 taxa of Hosta in China, three Chinese species, five introduced species, and three cultivars, was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compared with that of related genera (Hemerocallis, Agave, and Yucca). Pollen grains of Hosta were long-ellipsoidal or ellipsoidal, 20?C65?×?52.5?C142.5???m in size, bilaterally symmetrical, and monosulcate on the distal face. Reticulate and rugulate exine ornamentation was observed in different taxa, and the rugulate type can be further divided into rugulate, rugulate?Cbaculate, and rugulate?Cgranulate subtypes. The exine ornamentation may have evolved in the order: reticulate????rugulate????rugulate?Cbaculate????rugulate?Cgranulate. Furthermore, the rugulate exine ornamentation was the predominant ornamental type in Hosta except for one species with the reticulate type; this is markedly different from that of Hemerocallis, Agave and Yucca. Thus, our data support the proposal by Dahlgren and Clifford (The Monocotyledons: a comparative study. Academic Press, London, 1982) that these Hosta species constitute an independent family?CHostaceae.     

Pollen morphology and its taxonomic significance of the monotropoideae (Ericaceae)

A palynological survey, including LM, SEM and TEM is presented for eight genera, nine species and 76 samples of the Monotropoideae which is composed of 10 genera and 13 species. On the basis of the aperture number and shape, the following six pollen types are recognized: 1) 3-colp(oroid) ate—Allotropa, 2) 2-colpor(oid)ate—Monotropsis andHemitomes, 3) 4-colpor(oid)ate—Pterospora, Sarcodes andPleuricospora, 4) 2- and 3-colpor(oid)ate—Monotropa hypopitys, 5) 3-colporate and-porate —Monotropa uniflora, 6) 3- to 4- porate—Monotropastrum humile. Relationships among taxa within the Monotropoideae are illustrated on the palynological characters including the aperture type, exine sculpture and structure. Both pollen grains with two and four apertures have evolved independently from pollen grains with three apertures, according to the infraspecific variation of aperture numbers and the usual occurrence of three-aperturate pollen grains in the Ericaceae. 3-colp(oroid)ate pollen ofAllotropa is the most primitive and occupies an isolated position in the subfamily, on the other hand 3- to 4-porate pollen ofMonotropastrum humile is most advanced in the subfamily, probably even in the Ericaceae. A reduced sexine inMonotropastrum humile appears to be a specialized pollen character. Infraspecific geographical difference in palynological characters is revealed in two species ofMonotropa for the first time.M. hypopitys is basically characterized by pollen grains with two apertures in the New World vs. three apertures in the Old World.M. uniflora is basically characterized by 3-porate pollen in the New World vs. 3-colporate in the Old World. In both species pollen grains with more primitive characters usually occur in the Old World.     

中国紫草科天芥菜亚科花粉形态及其系统学意义

为了深入研究紫草科Boraginaceae的分类问题,用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察了中国紫草科天芥菜亚科Heliotropioideae天芥菜属Heliotropium 6种,砂引草属Messerschmidia 2种和紫丹属Tournefortia 1种植物的花粉形态.它们的花粉为长球形,赤道面观为椭圆形,极面观为六裂圆形或八裂圆形,少数为三角形.萌发孔有三种类型:(1)三孔沟与三假沟交替排列;(2)四孔沟和四假沟交替排列;(3)三孔沟.外壁表面具微弱的小穿孔,皱波状纹饰或表面近光滑.上述结果表明天芥菜亚科三个属之间有密切的亲缘关系.花粉特征表明紫丹属在天芥菜亚科中可能是比较原始的,天芥菜属的演化水平比紫丹属和砂引草属要高,而砂引草属介于其他两个属之间.花粉形态特征显示天芥菜亚科是厚壳树亚科Ehretioideae到紫草亚科Boraginaceae的过渡类型.紫丹属的花粉具三孔沟的萌发孔类型表明天芥菜亚科与破布木亚科Cordioideae有一定的亲缘关系.     

Pollen morphology of the family Cistaceae in Egypt and its systematic significance

The pollen morphology of 11 species (including two subspecies and two varieties) belonging to two genera (Helianthemum and Fumana) of the family Cistaceae in Egypt was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy.Pollen grains of the studied taxa were found to be radially symmetrical and tricolporate.Pollen size,shape,apertures,and exine ornamentation characteristics were valuable parameters among the studied taxa.The largest pollen size was recorded in H.salicifolium and the smallest one observed in H.kahiricum subsp,schweinfurthii.Pollen shape in the Egyptian taxa varied from (sub-)prolate to prolate spheroidal,but F.arabica is different in having sub-oblate grains.The pollen data confirm that H.lippii and H.sessiliflorum are very closely related species.Pollen sculpture was useful in distinguishing between H.vesicarium var.vesicarium and H.vesicarium var.ciliatum.Three main pollen types of exine ornamentation were recognized:retipilate; reticulate to verrucate; and striate.Based on palynological data,a key for the studied taxa is suggested.     

Pollen Diffusates of Crotalaria retusa and their Role in pH Regulation

Details of the release of proteins and amino acids from culturedpollen grains and the role of the leached metabolites in pollengermination, pollen tube growth and regulation of pH of theculture medium in Crotalaria retusa have been investigated.In unbuffered media, satisfactory pollen germination and tubegrowth occurred over a wide range of pH values 4.0–9.0.This was related to the ability of pollen diffusates to shiftthe pH to 6.25 in all these media. Similar pollen germinationand pH shift was observed when the pollen was eluted twice beforeculturing. When the pH shift was reduced by using buffered media,optimal germination and tube growth occurred only at pH 6.0.Pollen diffusates had a strong buffering capacity. Proteinsand amino acids released from pollen do not seem to have a directrole in pH regulation. The components involved in pH regulationmay originate from the pollen wall as well as from the cytoplasm. Crotalaria retusa L, pH regulation, pollen diffusates, pollen germination     

Pollen evolution and its taxonomic significance in Cuscuta (dodders, Convolvulaceae)

The pollen morphology of 148 taxa (135 species and 13 varieties) of the parasitic plant genus Cuscuta (dodders, Convolvulaceae) was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Six quantitative characters were coded using the gap-weighting method and optimized onto a consensus tree constructed from three large-scale molecular phylogenies of the genus based on nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid trn-LF sequences. The results indicate that 3-zonocolpate pollen is ancestral, while grains with more colpi (up to eight) have evolved only in two major lineages of Cuscuta (subg. Monogynella and clade O of subg. Grammica). Complex morphological intergradations occur between species when their tectum is described using the traditional qualitative types—imperforate, perforate, and microreticulate. This continuous variation is better expressed quantitatively as “percent perforation,” namely the proportion of perforated area (puncta or lumina) from the total tectum surface. Tectum imperforatum is likely the ancestral condition, while pollen grains with increasingly larger perforation areas have evolved multiple times. The reticulated tectum, unknown in other Convolvulaceae, has evolved in Cuscuta only in two lineages (subg. Monogynella, and clade O of subg. Grammica). Overall, the morphology of pollen supports Cuscuta as a sister to either the “bifid-style” Convolvulaceae clade (Dicranostyloideae) or to one of the members of this clade. Pollen characters alone are insufficient to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships; however, palynological information is useful for the species-level taxonomy of Cuscuta.     

Pollen influx values measured in different sedimentary environments and their palaeoecological implications

Aspects which need to be considered when calculating pollen influx values in three sedimentary environments (pollen traps, peats and lake sediments) are reviewed. Examples of influx values (grains cm^-2 year^-1) in northern Fennoscandia for two arboreal taxa Betula and Pinus, calculated from these three different environments are presented. Such long term average pollen influx values can be used to indicate the presence/absence and density of the species within the vicinity of the sampling site. Contrary to expectations, conditions do exist in which numerically comparable values are obtained from all three environments. Using these pollen influx values to interpret forest and woodland history in tree-line situations, from both peats and lake sediments, a higher degree of precision can be obtained than through the more classical pollen percentage method alone.     

Pollen and spore assemblages in the Luwumbu Coal Formation (Lower Karroo) of the North Luangwa Valley,Zambia, and their biostratigraphic significance

Pollen and spore assemblages from the Luwumbu Coal Formation (Lower Karroo) of the northern part of the Luangwa Valley, Zambia, are described. Two assemblages have been recognised, one from banded siltstones and mudstones in the lower part of the formation, and the other from the overlying carbonaceous sediments of the upper part of the formation. The older assemblage is dominated quantitatively by monosaccate forms (Cannanoropollis and Plicatipollenites), and is generally similar to assemblages recorded by other workers from the Lower Karroo glacial and peri-glacial rocks of Zaire.The younger assemblages comprises a variety of supra-generic groups; the most common forms are disaccate (striate and non-striate) and trilete, but monosaccate, polyplicate, colpate, monolete and alete forms all occur. Genera which are especially common include Protohaploxypinus, Vesicaspora and Acanthotriletes. Cannanoropollis is abundant in the lower part of the younger assemblage. In general, the assemblage is similar to that recorded from the upper part of the Lower Coal Measures of the Ketewaka/Mchuchuma coalfield of Tanzania.     

Endotoxins and their significance for murine trypanosomiasis

The study of endotoxins is complicated by their heterogenous nature, their multiple effects and the complex methodologies required for their identification. In this brief review, Vic Pentreath summarizes how the substances have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases caused by parasitic protozoa, and how the parasites (eg. Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma cruzi) may themselves contain endotoxin-like materials. Recent studies have shown that, during T. b. brucei infection in mice, serum endotoxin levels become markedly elevated and that endotoxin-like substances are also present in the purified parasite extracts.