Original scientific paper

Trichome micromorphology in drupe of Amygdalus L. (Rosaceae) from Iran

Mahnaz Vadafar ; Central Herbarium of University of Tehran, School of Biology, Faculty College of Science, University of Tehran, Po. Box: 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran.
Farideh Attar ; Central Herbarium of University of Tehran, School of Biology, Faculty College of Science, University of Tehran, Po. Box: 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran.
Hosein Maroofi ; Research Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kurdistan Province, Po. Box: 66169-36311-714, Sanandaj, Iran.

Abstract

For delimitation of species and systematic resolution, pericarp indumentum in drupes of 17 species and two hybrids of the genus Amygdalus L., representing two subgenera and two sections distributed in Iran, were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to assess whether in this genus, pericarp micromorphological characters are of taxonomic value. The pericarp indumentum type is velutinous with different density of trichomes. Glabrous pericarp was observed solely in A. reticulata Runemark ex Khatamsaz. All trichomes are simple. Two basic types of trichomes were distinguished on the surface of the pericarp: tubular and flattened. Among these, tubular trichomes are more frequent than other trichomes in most species except for A. kotschyi Boiss. et Hohen., A. eburnea Spach, A. spinosissima Bge. subsp. spinosissima and A. lycioides Spach var. lycioides. Density of trichomes was variable among the studied taxa. In the first subgenus (subgen. Amygdalus) with two sections, there was enough difference between sections. While density of trichomes in sect. Spartioides Spach was very low, most of species in the another section, sect. Amygdalus showed dense pericarp indumentum. Regarding density, the second subgenus, subgen. Dodecandra (Spach) Browicz showed dense indumentum. Two hybrids studied, A.´keredjensis Browicz and A.´kamiaranensis Khatamsaz et Assadi showed different pericarp indumenta, dense and sparse respectively. In conclusion, micromorphological investigation of pericarp indumentum in drupes is a useful tool for distinguishing taxa in some cases, especially those of the two sections in the first subgenus in Amygdalus.

Keywords

Amygdalus; pericarp; drupe; indumentum; micromorphology

Hrčak ID:

50778

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/50778

Publication date:

17.4.2010.

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