Morpho‐palynological assessment of some species of family Asteraceae and Lamiaceae of District Bannu, Pakistan on the bases of light microscope & scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

Pollen micro-morphological features have proven to be helpful for the plant taxonomists in the identification and classification of plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the palynological features of family Asteraceae and Lamiaceae from flora of District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan using both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscope (LM) for their taxonomic importance. Pollen of seven Asteraceous species belonging to four genera and four Lamiaceae species categorized into four genera were collected from different localities of research area.The present research work provides detailed information of diverse morphopalynological characters both qualitatively and quantitatively including pollen shape, type, diameter, P/E ratio, exine sculpturing and thickness. Type of pollen in Asteraceae and Lamiaceae was ranged from tricolporate, tricolpate, trizonocolpate and hexazonocolpate. The maximum polar diameter (40.05 μm) and equatorial diameter (37.66 μm) was observed in the Ajuga bracteoosa while minimum polar and equatorial diameter was noted in Isodon rugosus (11.10 μm) and Erigeron canadensis (13.20 μm) respectively. Sculpturing of exine include; echinate, reticulate scabrate, aerolate, reticulate-verrucate, reticulate-scabrate, perforate and reticulate to perforate. Exine thickness was examined maximum 1.50 μm in Helianthus tuberosus, whereas minimum in Conyza Canadensis (0.16 μm). The pollen fertility was found highest in C Canadensis (83.33%) and lowest in Ajuga bracteosa (58.06%). The observed pollen morphology has many valuable qualitative and quantitative attributes for the better understanding of their taxonomy and play significant role in correct identification.

Palyno‐morphological characterization of selected allergenic taxa of family Poaceae from Islamabad‐Pakistan using microscopic techniques

“…The pollen sterility and fertility percentage were determined by the formula used by Khan et al (2021). …”

Implication of light and scanning electron microscopy for pollen morphology of selected taxa of family Asteraceae and Brassicaceae

“…Pollen, for example, has played an important role in Asteraceae taxonomy in recent decades, providing evidence and support for groups at various taxonomic levels (Siniscalchi, Souza-Souza, Loeuille, Pirani, & Gonçalves-Esteves, 2017). In our study pollen of Erigeron bonariensis, prolate-spheroidal shape and echinate sculpturing were examined while previous findings described spherical, scabrate- (Khan, Jan, et al, 2021;.…”

“…techniques is conducted as an aid to the morphological studies and providing; significant tool for modern plant taxonomist for species delimitation (Ragho, 2020). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used for the dissimilarity of species on the basis of exine ornamentation (Khan, Jan, et al, 2021;. In this modern era recently use of SEM has developed essential research techniques in the micro morphological studies of pollen grains (Bahadur et al, 2018).…”

Micromorphological considerations on Alyssum nezaketiae Aytaç & H. Duman (Brassicaceae), endemic to gypsum habitats from Turkey: An electron microscopic study

“…The morphological characteristics were analyzed by SEM at Gazi University. The qualitative and quantitative characters of plant parts were studied by using a light and SEM (Gul et al, 2019; Khan et al, 2021; Khan & Khan, 2020). In accordance with this purpose, the dried leaf, root, and stem were cut into small portions similar to the size of the SEM stub (Ullah et al, 2021).…”