Taxonomic significance of pollen morphology for species delimitation in Psidium (Myrtaceae)

Previous studies reported Psidium as one of the most difficult genera to delimit within the American Myrtaceae. Even though palynology has improved the taxonomy of Angiosperms, information about the usefulness of pollen morphology for taxonomic purposes in Myrtaceae remains contradictory. Here, we i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant systematics and evolution 2017-03, Vol.303 (3), p.317-327
Main Authors: Tuler, Amélia C., da Silva, Tatiane, Carrijo, Tatiana T., Garbin, Mário L., Mendonça, Cláudia B. F., Peixoto, Ariane L., Gonçalves-Esteves, Vania
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Angiosperms
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cluster analysis
Genera
Granulation
Life Sciences
Morphology
Myrtaceae
Ordination
Original Article
Palynology
Plant Anatomy/Development
Plant Ecology
Plant Sciences
Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Pollen
Psidium
Scanning electron microscopy
Species
Taxonomic significance
Taxonomy
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Summary:Previous studies reported Psidium as one of the most difficult genera to delimit within the American Myrtaceae. Even though palynology has improved the taxonomy of Angiosperms, information about the usefulness of pollen morphology for taxonomic purposes in Myrtaceae remains contradictory. Here, we investigate the significance of pollen morphology for Psidium taxonomy with specific focus on its usefulness for determining species groups of taxonomic significance. Pollen traits observed by light and scanning electron microscopy were quantified and examined using cluster and ordination analyses. Average size of pollen grains was visualized by boxplots. Pollen grains of Psidium are isopolar, oblate, peroblate or oblate-spheroidal, 3-syncolporate or 4-syncolporate. The sexine ornamentation is iugulate, granulate or spinulose-granulate and differs between the mesocolpium and apocolpium. Cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups: Psidium cauliflorum (G1) and Psidium oligospermum (G3) as single-species groups; Psidium brownianum, P. oblongatum, P. ovale, P. sartorianum, P. guajava, Psidium sp. 1, Psidium sp. 2 (G2), and Psidium cattleianum, P. longipetiolatum, P. guineense, P. myrtoides (G4). Supported by ordination analysis, three traits better explained these groups: type of exine ornamentation, size of P-EV and pollen shape. The used approach efficiently distinguished related species, as well as explained species groups of taxonomic significance suggesting pollen morphology to be a significant source of information for taxonomic studies in Psidium.
ISSN:0378-2697
1615-6110
2199-6881
DOI:10.1007/s00606-016-1373-8