Ethnobotany, Medicinal Utilization and Systematics of Opuntia Species from Deserts of Pakistan

et al. 2022

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This research aimed to explore the melliferous bee flora pollen from arid zones of District Attock, Islamabad Capital and Rawalpindi. Morpho-palynological features has provided key information for the classification and help to explain the taxonomy of several genera and species. Therefore, in this work, we examined the morphological characters of pollen potentially to be used for the species delimitation of bee flora. A total of 18 bee floral species, classified into 12 different families were collected, pressed, identified and then acetolyized to observe the grains under microscopy. Bee pollen can be described by small, medium to large sized morphotypes presenting five types of shapes, prolate spheroidal in (seven species), sub-prolate (six species), oblate spheroidal (three species), oblate and prolate (one species each) was examined. The observed polar and equatorial diameter were found maximum in Zea mays 73.5 μm and Pelargonium inquinans 66.75 μm respectively. Pollen of six different types was found namely: tricolporate, 3-zonocolporate, monoportae, tetracolporate, tetraporate and mononsulcate. Whereas highest value of colpi length was measured in Grewia tenax (24.55 μm). Exine surface nature of pollen was examined echinate psilate and scabrate. Exine thickness noted to be maximum in Verbena tenuisecta (8.40 μm) and minimum in Citrus macrocarpa (0.4 μm). Bee floral species considered difficult to identify based on other morphological traits were successfully distinguished using pollen quantitative and qualitative traits, confirming the importance of pollen morphology to diagnose characters to correctly identify honeybee flora. Research Highlights• Pollen diversity among honeybee flora.• Highly variations observed via microscopy in pollen micromorphology.• Palyno-morph has taxonomic value for the identification of honeybee floral species.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollen morphology of selected melliferous plants and its taxonomic implications using microscopy

Attique

et al. 2022

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“…Glycerin jelly was used to stain the pollen and was prepared according to the techniques used by Kayani et al, (2019). The slides were covered with cover slips and considered with the assistance of light magnifying lens (Ashfaq et al, 2018; Majeed et al, 2021). The slides were labeled with names and the species name and voucher number were noted and kept in vertical situation in a wooden box.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microscopic (LM and SEM) visualization of pollen ultrastructure among honeybee flora from lower Margalla Hills and allied areas

et al. 2022

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Microscopic visualization of micro‐morphological characters were analyzed using a scanning electron microscopic (SEM) tool, which has proven to be very successful to analyze the pollen surface peculiarities. The significant goal of this research was to perform microscopic examination of pollen of some of the most frequently visited honeybee floral species around apiaries. Micro‐morphological characterization of frequented honeybees foraged plants were discussed. A total of 15 species, belonging to 11 different families were identified for the foraging activities of honeybees, namely, Lantana camara, Jatropha integerrima, Helianthus annuus, Tecoma stans, Lagerstroemia indica, Duranta erecta, Cosmos sulphureus, Hymenocollis littoralis, Moringa oleifera, Cestrum nocturnum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Volkameria inermis, Catharanthus roseus, Malvastrum coromandelianum, and Citharexylum spinosum. The microscopic slides were prepared using the acetolysis method, and the qualitative and quantitative features were measured and described using microscopic tools. The pollen type sculpture varies from psilate scabrate to echinate and colpi from tricolpate to tetracolpate. Quantitative parameters such as polar diameter, mesocolpium distance, equatorial dimensions, aperture size, spine diameter, and exine thickness were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics 20. The exine thickness was measured at its maximum in C. roseus (3.85 μm), whereas it was at its minimum of 0.90 μm in L. indica and D. erecta. Pollen fertility was estimated to be highest in H. annus (88%). The current research validates scanning microscopic features of pollen of the honeybee floral species, which is helpful for the accurate identification and commercializing of honey production to generate revenue for beekeepers through the exploration of bee floral diversity. Research Highlights Pollen spectrum examination using microscopic imaging techniques. Variations examined through scanning microscopy in pollen ultrastructure. Micro‐morphology has taxonomic value for accurate identification of honeybee flora. Authentication of Honeybee floral species for sustainable beekeeping.

“…Cactus show diversification in life form and various adaptations to arid conditions, which are observed in their morpho-physiological characteristics and, moreover, in the adaptability of their reproduction (Arias & Flores, 2013;del Carmen Mandujano et al, 2010) The subfamily Opuntioideae represents about 220-350 species are conventionally recognized as a monophyletic taxonomic entity (Anderson & Brown, 2001;Ritz et al, 2012). A recent phylogenetic paradigm for assessing morphological evolution in the Opuntioideae subfamily has been developed (Griffith & Porter, 2009;Majeed et al, 2021). Opuntioideae is recognized by a number of synapomorphy derived evolutionary traits, such as (a) presence of glochids with small barbed spines (Robinson, 1974); (b) seed enclosed by woody funicular tissue (Stuppy, 2002); (c) presence of calcium oxalate monohydrate druses and monoclinic cluster crystals in the stem hypodermis (Hartl et al, 2007) and (d) distinctive exine structures of pantoaperturate grains (Leuenberger, 1976) The genus Opuntia is well-known for its numerous taxonomic problems caused by significant morphological diversity, which may be attributed to widespread polyploidy, hybridization between closely related species, and, in certain cases, homoplasy among morphological features during evolution (Granados-Aguilar et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The subfamily Opuntioideae represents about 220–350 species are conventionally recognized as a monophyletic taxonomic entity (Anderson & Brown, 2001; Ritz et al, 2012). A recent phylogenetic paradigm for assessing morphological evolution in the Opuntioideae subfamily has been developed (Griffith & Porter, 2009; Majeed et al, 2021). Opuntioideae is recognized by a number of synapomorphy derived evolutionary traits, such as (a) presence of glochids with small barbed spines (Robinson, 1974); (b) seed enclosed by woody funicular tissue (Stuppy, 2002); (c) presence of calcium oxalate monohydrate druses and monoclinic cluster crystals in the stem hypodermis (Hartl et al, 2007) and (d) distinctive exine structures of panto‐aperturate grains (Leuenberger, 1976)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morpho‐palynological and anatomical studies in desert cacti (Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia monacantha) using light and scanning electron microscopy

Majeed

et al. 2022

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Opuntia is the most diverse and widely distributed drought resistant promising genus of family Cactaceae. The cladodes were utilized to quantify the chemical composition of these plants helpful in lignocellulose conversion and their application towards biofuel production. The present study was aimed to evaluate and compare the taxonomic relationship based on morphology, stem anatomy and palynology of important desert cacti including Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia monacantha. This study also evaluates the potential usefulness of morphological, anatomical and pollen traits using light and scanning electron microscopy. The obtained microcharacters of stem and flowers are considered diagnostic at the generic and specific levels. Some distinguishing morphological features observed were elliptical to obovate cladodes, 1-7 spines per areole and presence of glochidia in O. dillenii. Pollen and stem anatomical characters of the studied taxa are considered highly diagnostic at the generic and species levels. The epidermis has irregular and wavy cells, with straight to sinuate wall pattern and paracytic stomata. Pollen grains appear as pantoporate and prolate spheroidal having reticulate to perforate-reticulate sculpturing while exine semi-tectate to tectate. The taxonomic features studied could be valuable to elaborate and helpful in correctly identification of Opuntia species. The methods of diverse microscopic examination also providing sufficient evidence about the taxonomy of the Opuntia species. Research Highlights• Description and illustration of desert cacti Opuntia.• Morpho-anatomy and palynology were studied with LM and SEM.• Highly variation in taxonomic qualitative and quantitative features.• Systematic significance based on taxonomic characters was presented.