MICROMORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF SEEDS IN SOME SPECIES OF LATHYRUS L. IN SOUTH CAUCASUS (AZERBAIJAN)

Abstract

For the first time, micromorphology structure of seeds in 10 species (L. annuus, L. cicera, L. hirsutus, L. tuberosus, L. miniatus, L. pratensis, L. laxiflorus, L. aphaca, L. nissolia, L. sphaericus) belonging to sections (Lathyrus, Pratensis, Aphaca, Nissolia, Linearicarpus) of Lathyrus L. collected from various regions of Azerbaijan were analysed. Seed samples of 10 species were taken for analysis from different biotopes and different populations located away from one-another. Collected seed materials were gathered in special sterile paper bags and their moisture was dried with silicagel substance in laboratory conditions. During the research, morphological characters, as well as general shape, size and colour of seed, length and width of hilum were identified under Leica EZ4D stereomicroscope. The largest seeds have been measured in Lathyrus (L. cicera 4,4–5,0 mm) section and the smallest seeds in Nissolia (L. nissolia 1,8–2,3 mm) section. The longest hilum belongs to L. miniatus 1,8–2,8 mm and the smallest in L. Nissolia 0,4–0,7 mm. The width hilum was measured in L. annuus (0,7–1,0 mm) and the narrow hilum L. nissolia (0,1–0,3 mm). Mature seed (2–3) samples were selected from each type under the SEM, the seeds were placed on stools with double-sided adhesive tapes and covered with gold powder through the JEOL JFC1600 ion-spray device for 1 to 2 minutes. Seed samples were researched on the side surface. The photos of the surface of seeds were taken in a 3000× size in JEOL JSM6610 lv electronic microscope, and structural analysis of the different places of their surfaces was conducted. The results showed that the microscopic research of the surface of seed is of taxonomic importance and is used in specification of the status of sections. The morphological properties such as surface structure, hilum length and width, papillae features can be used to differentiate some sections and species, but seed size, general shape seed and hilum, seed colour are not characteristics can be used to differentiate some sections.