Taxonomic Significance of Anthers and Pollen grains of Some Species of Solanaceae from Egypt

Abstract

: Thirteen species of the Solanaceae from Egypt were examined for their anther characteristics and the pollen morphology using LM and SEM. The investigated species representing nine genera viz. Atropa , Cestrum , Datura, Hyoscyamus, Nicotiana, Petunia, Physalis, Solanum, and Withania. The exertion of anthers from the corolla tube, the mode of anther attachment with the filament, and the ways of anthers dehiscence, as well as the anthers colour and shape, represent diagnostic variation among the species. The sculpturing patterns viewed on the surface of the anther were potentially useful in the identification of many of the species. The pollen grains were isopolar, tricolporate, suboblate, subprolate to prolate, and with notable differences in the exine sculpturing. The computational analysis of 34 scored character–states affirmed the usefulness of such characters in clarifying the taxonomic relationships among the examined species.