Investigating Schizocarp morphology as a taxonomic tool in study of Apiaceae family by utilizing LM and SEM techniques

Abstract

In present study, the schizocarp morphology of 14 species belonging to Apiaceae family has been investigated. Light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been utilized to highlight qualitative and quantitative features of studied species. Variations have been observed in macro-and micro-morphological features such as color, shape, symmetry, length, width, apex, epicuticular projections, surface patterns, anticlinal, and periclinal wall patterns.Schizocarp shapes observed were oval, round, triangular, linear, elliptic, and globose. Fruit was either homomorphic or heteromorphic. Crystalloids, stellate hair, multicellular spines, and platelets were mostly observed epicuticular projections. Surface patterns on the fruit surface were striate, rugulate-striate, reticulate, and striato-knotted. Both macro-and micro-morphological characters can serve as an important tool in classifying Apiaceae family at various taxonomic ranks. Substantial variations observed can assist as useful constraints at various taxonomic levels as they provide reliable and constant details. Disparities observed in schizocarp features can pave a path for Apiaceae family classification based on phylogenetic and molecular studies. K E Y W O R D S Apiaceae, epicuticular projections, LM, Schizocarp, SEM

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

“…Scanning electron microscopy has a significant impact on different of biological disciplines in recent years (Ahmad et al, 2021; Khan et al, 2018; Niazi et al, 2022; Ullah, Ahmad, Jabeen, et al, 2021; Ullah, Ahmad, Zafar, et al, 2021; Ullah, Nasar Shah, et al, 2019; Ullah, Zafar, Ahmad, et al, 2021; Ullah, Zaman, et al, 2019). Furthermore, enhanced microscopy techniques can not only play a significant role in this discipline by studying plant specimen ultrastructure (Ahmad et al, 2022; Kalsoom et al, 2019; Khan et al, 2021; Lubna et al, 2019; Ullah, Ahmad, Jabeen, et al, 2021; Ullah, Ahmad, Zafar, et al, 2021; Ullah, Zafar, Ahmad, et al, 2021) but also in other fields of biology (Ahmad et al, 2018; Ullah, Ahmad, Jabeen, et al, 2021; Ullah, Ahmad, Zafar, et al, 2021; Ullah, Zafar, Ahmad, et al, 2021).…”

Light and scanning electron microscopic characterization of aflatoxins producing Aspergillus flavus in the maize crop

“…In Pakistan various studies have been conducted on microscopic characterization of plant species. The light and scanning microscopic characterization of various groups has been done on various groups of plants (Bano et al, 2020; Ahmad et al, 2013; Ahmad et al, 2020; Ahmad et al, 2020; Ashfaq et al, 2020a) while microscopic characterization of specific groups include Bryophytes (Khan et al, 2020); Gymnosperms (Khan et al, 2019); Pteridophytes (Shah et al, 2020; Shah et al, 2020; Shah et al, 2021); Some of the specific families including Asteraceae (Ahmad et al, 2013; Bano, Ahmad, Zafar, Sultana, & Khan, 2015; Ayaz et al, 2019); Mimosaceae (Khan et al, 2019; Alam et al, 2019; Khan et al, 2021); Convolvulaceae (Ashfaq et al, 2020b); Cactaceae (Majeed et al 2020); Capparidaceae (Mir et al, 2019); Amaranthaceae (Hussain et al, 2018; Nazish et al, 2020); Acanthaceae (Raza et al, 2020); Caryophyllaceae (Ullah et al, 2016; Ullah et al, 2019); Poaceae (Shaheen et al, 2018; Ullah et al, 2016; Khan et al, 2019; Usma et al, 2019; Ahmad 2020; Ullah et al, 2021); Lamiaceae (Gul et al, 2021; Bano et al, 2020); Papilionoideae (Rashid et al, 2019; Rashid et al, 2021; Waheed et al, 2021); Eragrostideae‐Poaceae (Ahmad et al, 2011); Solanaceae (Kayani et al 2019; Ashfaq et al, 2020a); Papilionaceae (Bano et al, 2019); Apiaceae (Kalsoom et al, 2019); Vitaceae (Lubna et al, 2019); Balsaminaceae (Rahman, Ahmad, Zafar, Mumtaz, & Shah, 2017); Caesalpiniaceae (Ullah et al, 2019); Euphorbiaceae (Zahra, Ahmad, Shinwari, Zafar, & Sultana, 2014). However, no work has been done on identification of A. flavus in various areas of Pakistan using microscopic techniques especially SEM.…”

Palyno‐anatomical characters and their systematic significance in the family Apiaceae from Chitral, eastern Hindu Kush, Pakistan

“…The members of Umbelliferae have found ubiquitous medicinal uses against versatile disorders due to the presence of diverse chemical compounds (Berenbaum, 2001). Apiaceae was the headmost family of angiosperm to be monographed (Kalsoom et al, 2019).…”

“…The subfamily Apioideae having 1,800–3,000 species and 250–400 genera is considered the largest subfamily of Apiaceae (Plunkett & Downie, 1999) and is reported to be more advanced than that of Hydrocotyloideae and Saniculoideae because of the accumulation of active chemical constituents (Harborne, 1971). Many scientists from all over the globe have worked out on different aspects of the family Apiaceae (Kalsoom et al, 2019; Wen et al, 2020; Zengin et al, 2019).…”