Pollen Morphology of Loxostemon (Cruciferae) in China

The present paper deals with the pollen morphology of 10 species and 1 variety of Loxostemon in China. The pollen grains were all examined under light microscope. The pollen grains of Loxostemon are subspheroidal, spheroidal or prolate, 18--33×11.8-28 μ in size, 3-colpate, colpi 15-21 μ long and 1-2 μ wide. The exine is 1.5-3 μ thick with two indistinct or distinct layers. All the pollen grains are generally reticulate under light microscope. They are distinctly or obscurely and finely reticulate. L. axillus and L. repens are generally similar in gross morphology, but the pollen grains of these two species are different. The pollen grains of L. axillus are regularly polygonally reticulate, colpi are acute-ended and the exine is about 3 μ thick, whereas those of L.repens are irregularly polygonally reticulate, colpi are enlarged at both ends and the exine is about 2.8 μ thick. L. incanus and L. stenolobus appear to have similar gross morphology, but the pollen grains of the former have exines with two distinct layers and a densely and finely reticulate ornamentation and those of the latter have exines with two indistinct layers and a flexuosely reticulate ornamentation.     

The Restoration of the Genus Cyclocodon ( Campanulaceae) and Its Evidence from Pollen and Seed-coat

The genus Cyclocodon Griff. was reduced by C. B. Clarke in 1881 into a section of the genus Campanumoea. Our LM and SEM observations on pollen morphology show that the pollen of all the three species in the former is 3-colporate with the exine sparsely high-spinulose, whereas that of the two species in the latter is 5～8-colpate with the exine relatively densely short-spinulose. SEM observations on seed-coat indicate that the primary ornamentation of the seed-coat of the two species in Campanumoea (s. str. ) is characterized by regular and polygonal areoles which are much larger than the radial walls in diameter and by the bead-like secondary ornamentation on the radial walls, while that of the three species in Cyclocodon is characterized by irregular-shaped areoles which are nearly equal to the radial walls in diameter and by the rope-like secondary ornamentation on the radial walls. Thus, the pollen morphology is closely correlated with the seed-coat morphology. Taking the characteristics of pollen, seed-coat and gross morphology into consideration, the genus Cyclocodon is restored, separate from Campanumoea (s. str. ). One new combination, Cyclocodon celebicus (B1.)Hong, is made in the present paper. The genus Cyclocodon is con-sidered closely related to Platycodon rather than to Campanumoa.     

The systematic value of pollen morphology in Smilacaceae

Smilacaceae are a small family of dioecious, mostly climbing, net-veined monocotyledons with a cosmopolitan distribution. Relatively little is known about the variation of pollen morphology within the family. For this reason, and to investigate the systematic value of palynology in Smilacaceae, pollen from 125 species of Smilax, Heterosmilax, and Ripogonum was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Ten of these were examined further by transmission electron microscopy. Four distinct pollen types grouped into two major pollen classes were distinguished: Class 1, represented by the pollen of all Smilax and Heterosmilax species, is mostly spheroidal, inaperturate, and spinulate or microspinulate, with a thin, fragile exine of varied sculpturing; three pollen types are represented within this class. Class 2 is found only in Ripogonum and contains a single pollen type with prolate, monosulcate, reticulately-sculptured pollen. The unique pollen morphology of Ripogonum supports its removal from Smilacaceae. In contrast, the characteristics of Heterosmilax pollen intergrade with those seen in Smilax, suggesting that the former might be better reduced to synonymy with the latter. A key to the identification of these pollen types is presented along with a discussion of geographic and possible evolutionary trends among them.     

Le Infezioni Con “Stubborn” Ottenute per Trauma E Il Grado di Recettività dei Tipi di Grano

Abstract

Dioecy ensures cross pollination but pollen must travel from male to female plants, sometimes covering long distances. The present study concerns the reproductive strategy of two Italian dioecious plants: Mercurialis annua L. and Bryonia dioica L. The former is anemophilous and the latter is entomophilous; the latter has nectar and pollen as rewards. The distribution of pollen grains on the stigma is very different in the two species, reflecting the different types of pollination. In both species there is a number-dependent mechanism of pollen germination on the stigma. This mechanism could enhance male gametophytic competition.     

光果舟果荠分类地位的修订

从形态和细胞学角度,对舟果荠和光果舟果荠的果实与种子形态、花粉形态以及染色体数目进行了比较研究,并对光果舟果荠的分类地位进行了重新探讨.结果表明,舟果荠和光果舟果荠的种子大小及形态和微形态基本相似,但前者的果实密被柔毛,花粉粒体积比后者的大,染色体数目为2n=14,而后者的果实光滑无毛,染色体数目为2n=12.二者在果实与花粉粒形态以及染色体基数上存在明显的差异.建议将光果舟果荠独立成种,恢复原有的分类位置.     

Heterostyly promotes compatible pollination in buckwheats: Comparisons of intraflower,intraplant, and interplant pollen flow in distylous and homostylous Fagopyrum

Premise of the Study

Heterostyly, the reciprocal positioning of stigmas and anthers in different floral morphs, has long been thought to promote intermorph pollination. However, extensive intramorph pollination occurs commonly in heterostylous species, leading to recurrent questions about the functional and evolutionary significance of heterostyly.

Methods

To identify the sources of stigmatic pollen (autogamous [intraflower], geitonogamous [intraplant], vs. interplant), we emasculated either one flower or entire plants in experimental populations of the two closely related buckwheat species, distylous Fagopyrum esculentum and homostylous F. tataricum. Differences in pollen size allowed unambiguous identification of pollen on stigmas.

Results

Only 2.4% of F. tataricum pollen and 1.5% of F. esculentum pollen arrived successfully on compatible stigmas of other plants. In the former (homostylous) species, 71.3% of the pollen load on stigmas was autogamous, 10.8% was geitonogamous, and 17.9% was interplant. In the latter (distylous) species, 37.45% of the pollen on stigmas was autogamous, 13.8% was geitonogamous, 17.0% was intramorph, and 31.75% was intermorph. The amount of incompatible pollen arriving on stigmas was greatly decreased by both one‐flower and whole‐plant emasculations, and thus, the proportion of compatible pollen deposited increased with one‐flower emasculation and increased even more with whole‐plant emasculation.

Conclusions

Our quantification of pollen‐donor sources in these two species indicated that heterostyly in Fagopyrum esculentum provided a nearly 2‐fold fitness advantage (in terms of compatible pollination) over expected (random) pollen transfers between morphs. Because of reduced herkogamy, the homostylous F. tataricum was highly autogamous.     

Pollen discounting and the evolution of selfing in Arenaria uniflora (caryophyllaceae)

Although most models of mating system evolution assign a central role to the male transmission advantage of selfing genotypes, empirical data on the male fitness consequences of increased self-pollination are still uncommon. Here, I use measures of pollen import and export by focal plants in genotyped arrays to investigate the effects of floral morphology and pollination environment on self and outcross male function. Plants from an autogamous population of Arenaria uniflora (Caryophyllaceae) exhibit complete pollen discounting relative to closely related outcrossers, as do morphologically intermediate F1 hybrids between the two populations. However, the low cumulative male fitness of hybrids probably results from reduced pollen number or competitive ability, rather than a nonlinear relationship with floral morphology. When surrounded by selfers, plants from the outcrosser population self-fertilize at nearly the same rate as selfers (>80%), but have much lower self male fitness due to reduced fruit set. Because outcross siring success is also extremely low (<8%) in this treatment, these mate-limited outcrossers are at male fitness disadvantage to both pseudocleistogamous selfers and nonlimited outcrossers. The relative male fitness of plants with different mating systems appears dependent on the ecological context, as well as on morphological trade-offs.     

Pollen Morphology of Tundra Shrubs and Submarginal Plants from Barrow, Alaska

Investigation of plant morphological features, pollen, and habitat have been made for two shrub species from Barrow, Alaska, namely Dryas integrifoila M. Vahl and Salix rotundifolia Trautv., both of which are endemic to the Arctic floristic area. The former species has small lanceolate or plate leaves, whereas the latter has rounded leaves with distinct veins, rich in vitamin C. Both have dwarf and sprawling habits. Pollen studies showed that the pollen grains of the two species are spheroidal to sub-spheroidal or prolate. The type of aperture was tricolporate; pollen size 26.3-31.3 μm; ornamentation finely reticulate under a light microscope （LM） and strlate-reticulate under a scanning electron microscope （SEM） for D. integrafoila and finely reticulate under the LM and SEM for S. rotundifolia. Comparisons were made between the pollen from the same species from Arctic collections with those from China and Japan. Investigation of pollen morphology of tundra plants can provide significant data for comparative studies of fossil pollen and for the reconstruction of paleovegetation and paleoclimate in the Barrow area.     

Pollen Tetrads in Lilium with a Discussion on the Delimitation Between L.semer vivoideum and Its Ally

In the course of our palynological study on the Chinese Lilium, pollen tetrads are found in two taxa of the genus: L. sempervivoideum and L. amoenum. The latter is distributed in NW. and S. Yunnan Province. It was established by Wilson, but reduced later by himself to a synonym of L. sempervivoideum which occurs from S. Sichuan to C. Yunnan. However, it is regarded as a species distinct from the former by many authors, such as Sealy (1949), Woodcock and Stearn (1950) and S. Y. Liang (1980). Their pollen tetrads are similar in aperture appearance and sexine patterns, but different in the shape, size and arrangement of sculptural elements, as shown by LM and SEM examination. Their leaf shape and flower colour are different, though there are some transitions between them. Based on the facts mentioned above, it is reasonable to regard the two taxa as two subspecies in L. sempervivoideum.     

Studies on the Pollen Morphology of Tribe Zizipheae of Rhamnaceae in China

Pollen morphology of Chinese 19 species representing 6 genera in the tribe Zizipheae Brongn., Rhamnaceae, was examined under light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The pollen grains oblate or suboblate, rarely subspheroidal. Polar axis 13.1-26.1μm long, equatorial axis 16.5-29.6μm long, 3-colporate, colpus generally narrow, ora lalongate, with two ends connected with the thinned part of exine, forming a H-shape. There are 4 thickenings where colpi and ora pass across, or sometimes the thickenings indistinct, forming a ring. Stratification couspicuous or inconspicuous. Ornamentation of exine obscure, rarely obscurely reticulate under light microscope, but conspicuously fine-reticulate, finely reticulate-foveolate, foveolate, striate-reticulate and shortly striate under scanning electron microscope. A key to the genera based on pollen grains is provided and the general morphology of 6 genera: Paliurus, Ziziphus, Chaydaia, Berchemia, Berchemiella and Rhamnella are described. Based on 4 thickenings and H-shape, pollen grains of the tribe Zizipheae may be divided into two groups: 1. the four thickenings rather larger and conspicuous, or stretched along the colpus in some species, H-shape distinct, e.g. in Berchemiella, Chaydaia and Rhamnella, and 2. the four thickenings smaller, sometimes forming a ring, H-shape more or less conspicuous, e.g. in Berchemia, Paliurus and Ziziphus. With respect to the concept of the genera Berchemiella and Berchemia, there were two different ideas among a number of taxonomists. H. Koidzumi, J. Ohwi and S. Kitamura place the former in Berchemia as a section, but on the contrary, T. Nakai, T. Yamazaki and K. Suessenguth consider Berchemiella and Berchemia as two separate genera. The data from pollen morphology support the latter treatment. Berchemia is closely related to Berchemiella, Chaydaia and Rhamnella in the habit and the floral morphology, but differs from the others by its disc well-developed, eularged and becoming cup-shaped in fruit. They are also different from each other in the characters of pollen grains. T. Yamazaki places the genus Chaydaia in Rhamnella as a section, but according to the pollen morphology to treat Chaydaia and Rhamnella as two independent genera woild be reasonable.     

Studies on Pollen Morphology and Exine Ultrastructure in Cephalotaxaceae

The pollen morphology of Cephalotaxaceae was examined with LM, SEM and TEM. Pollen grains in this family are spheroidal or subspheroidal, rounded in polar view, but usually wrinkled with irregular shape. Pollen size is 22.6- 34.8 μm in diameter. There is a distinct or indistinct tenuity on distal face. The tenuity occasionally slightly rises above the outline of pollen grains, but often sukened. Exine rather thin, 1—1.5μm thick, layers obscure, surface of pollen grains is nearly psilate or weakly granulate. Under SEM exine is covered with fine and dense granules, and sparse Ubisch bodies are found on the granular layer. The Ubisch bodies are provided with minute gemmate processes on the surface. Acorrding to our observation under TEM, exine consists of ectexine and lamellate endexine, with the former divided into outer ectexine of granules densely arranged and inner ectexine of loosely arranged microgranules. Granules of the outer ectexine are relatively thick, and connected with each other, forming a structure just like tectum or separate from each other. Microgranules of the inner ectexine are distinct or indistinct. Endexine is provided with 5- 7 lamellae. As far as information of pollen morphology is concerned, Cephalotaxus oliveri is rather special in the Cephalotaxaceae. First, the tenuity in pollen grains occupies one half of the distal part, much larger than that of the other species in the family. Second, the ectexine in Cephalotaxus oliveri may be divided into two distinct layers, outer ectexine and inner ectexine. The former is made of a layer of sporopollenin masses, which are connected with each other to form tectumlike structure, while the latter consists of a layer of loosely arranged granules or small segments of sporopollenin. The inner ectexine is different from that of other species by having a thicker layer of sporopollenin granules. Based on these two features, we support the division of Cephalotaxus into two Sections, Sect. Pectinatae and Sect. Cephalotaxus. Pollen grains of Cephalotaxaceae are similar to those of the Taxaceae in having spheroidal shape and the tenuity on its distal face. These characteristics strengthen the evidence for a close relationship between the Cephalotaxaceae and Taxaceae. Although pollen grains of the Cephalotaxaceae and Taxaceae are similar in some characteristics, they have obvious differences in , for example, size of tenuity, the fine structure of Ulbisch bodies and of the outer and inner ectexine. On the basis of pollen morphology, the present author considers theCephalotaxaceae slightly more primitive than the Taxaceae.     

四种番荔枝科植物花粉形态

利用扫描和透射电子显微镜,观察了番荔枝科(Annonaceae)4属4种植物的花粉形态与结构.刺果番荔枝(Annona muricata)和金钩花(Pseuduvaria trimera)为四合花粉,有四角形、偏菱形、T-型、十字形和四面体形.前者花粉表面具小穿孔,后者为皱波状纹饰.蕉木(Oncodostigma hainanense)和那大紫玉盘(Uvaria macclurei)为单花粉,前者表面为皱波状纹饰,后者为粗褶皱状纹饰.透射电子显微镜下,蕉木和那大紫玉盘覆盖层较厚、连续.蕉木覆盖下层较薄,偶尔可见颗粒状物质或不规则小柱,为过渡型覆盖下层;那大紫玉盘覆盖下层颗粒状.基层分为内外两层,外层较厚,平或呈波浪状,内层具有2～4片层结构.在不同属或同属不同种之间,花粉特征差异较大,多样性非常丰富.金钩花具有四合花粉、覆盖下层小柱状等进化特征,同时又具有花粉粒小、覆盖层无穿孔等较原始特征.     

中国紫草科厚壳树亚科的花粉形态及其系统学意义

为探讨厚壳树亚科在紫草科中的系统位置,用扫描电子显微镜研究了国产厚壳树亚科Ehretioideae的厚壳树属Ehretia、轮冠木属Rotula和基及树属 Carmona 3属12种植物的花粉形态,其扫描电镜资料属首次报道。从本文并结合文献报道的双柱紫草属 Coldenia的花粉资料,可得知该亚科花粉为长球形 、近球形,稀球形,赤道部位具有不同程度的膨大;萌发孔类型为三孔沟和三拟假沟二者交替排列,稀具三孔;外壁表面具微弱的小穿孔,稀光滑或皱波状纹饰。厚壳树亚科Ehretioideae与破布木亚科     

湖北省泽泻科、水鳖科、眼子菜科及茨藻科植物花粉形态研究

本文利用光镜及扫描电镜对湖北省泽泻科、水鳖科、眼子菜科及茨藻科11属29种1变种1变型植物(另加采于湛江的软骨草)的花粉形态进行了研究,发现泽泻科植物花粉具多个圆形萌发孔,外壁表面为小刺状纹饰;茨藻科植物花粉具远极单槽,表面为绉波状纹饰;眼子菜科及本文研究的水鳖科植物花粉均无萌发孔,分别具网状和小刺状饰纹饰。1.茨藻科植物花粉最原始,泽泻科花粉较进化,眼子菜科花粉较水鳖科花粉进化;2.泽泻属与泽苔草属花粉较慈姑属花粉原始;3.鞘叶眼子菜亚屈花粉较眼子菜亚属的花粉处于更高演化阶段;4.多孔茨藻花粉在该科中最原始。本文工作尚对易变形水生植物花粉形态研究方法进行了尝试。     

八角属花粉形态研究

本文利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对八角属(Illicium L.)14种1变种的花粉形态作了研究。通过花粉形态的研究,验证了在分类上本属所分各组的合理性,讨论了该属花粉形态的演化趋势。     

乐东拟单性木兰花粉形态观察

观察了乐东拟单性木兰 ( Parakmeria lotungensis)的雄花及两性花花粉的外壁雕纹及花粉壁的超微结构。二者花粉的大小、轮廓、表面雕纹及花粉壁的结构均很相似 ,但两性花花粉的产量很低。可以认为拟单性木兰属是木兰科中两性花向单性花演化的过渡类群     

Morphology of pollen and orbicules in some Dioscorea species and its systematic implications

Pollen and orbicule morphology of 35 Dioscorea L. species is described based on observations with light microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Pollen and orbicule characters are critically evaluated and discussed in the context of existing hypotheses of systematic relationships within the genus. Pollen is mostly bisulcate (sometimes monosulcate) with a perforate, microreticulate or striate sexine. Our results indicate that pollen data may be significant at sectional rank. The close relationship between sections Asterotricha and Enantiophyllum proposed by Burkill and Ayensu is supported by pollen morphology as all species investigated share bisulcate, perforate pollen with small perforations and a high perforation density. Macromorphological differences between the two compound-leaved sections Botryosicyos and Lasiophyton are also supported by pollen morphology; pollens of these two sections have very different perforation patterns. Orbicules in Dioscorea are mostly spherical and possess a smooth or spinulose surface. The latter is often correlated with a striate sexine.     

天南星属植物的花粉形态

利用扫描电镜对天南星科天南星属（Arisaema)8组25种植物的花粉进行研究（其中,12种前人未观察过,12种中11种为我国特有）。结果显示：本属花粉形态基本一致,即球形,无萌发孔,无覆盖层,具微刺,是一个非常自然的类群。但各个种在花粉粒大小,刺长,刺的形状,刺基部上径,刺的密度和刺间纹饰方面差别较大,可以作为区别种的依据。这进一步证实了前人的结论。花粉形态支持学者们关于天南星属是本科最进化的类群之一的观点。天南星属花粉可能由线花组从花粉大小适中、刺密度居中向大或小、密或疏的方向发展;刺间表面纹饰对探讨组间演化关系意义不大。Murata等对于花粉刺间具较密颗粒为曲序组特征的界定可疑;把A.yunnanense Buchet、A.bathycoleum Hand.-Mazt.和A.prazeri Hook.f.归入曲序组似乎不妥。A.consanguineum Schott和A.fraternum Schott的花粉形态没有支持李恒对这两个种的归并。     

关于瓦布贝母的分类等级研究

基于营养体和花部形态,将瓦布贝母（F．wabuensis）降为暗紫贝母的一个变种：F.unibracteata var.wabuensis。     

The growth of the pollen tube wall in Oenothera organensis.

The growth of the pollen tube wall of Oenothera is effected by the expulsion of fibrillar material from the cytoplasm into the developing wall. This material may also be seen in the cytoplasm, contained in membrane-bound vesicles. It is not clear how the content of the vesicles is discharged, but it appears not to involve the participation of microtubules. The source of the cytoplasmic fibrillar bodies depends upon the stage of development of the pollen tube. The earilest growth is derived from the inclusion into the wall of vesicles containing pre-formed materials present in the grain on pollination. During the next stage of growth the wall is derived from the content of double-membraned inclusions also present in the pollen. The content of the former vesicles is not so similar to the wall as the latter, but intermediates between the 2 types of vesicle may be seen in the cytoplasm, indicating that the former are formed from the latter. Most of the tube wall is derived from the products of dictyosomes in the pollen grain or tube. These dicytosomes are few in number and they must be exceedingly active. This, and the observation that dictyosome vesicles are frequently associated with banked complexes of mitochondria, indicates that some steps in the metabolism of the vesicular content, perhaps phosphorylation, take place distant from the dicytosomes. These different sources of fibrillar material presumably permit the rapid starting of tube growth, without any attendant metabolism. However, it would be impossible to include enough pre-formed wall material in the grain to enable the full growth of the tube, so once started, it seems that the tube then relies on the elaboration of simple reserves for the contruction of its wall. These reserves are likely to be held in the pollen, and may be the large numbers of starch grains characteristic of the pollen cytoplasm.