TITLE:
Pollen Morphology and Pollen Fertility Estimation of Three Medicinal Plant Species of Hypericum L. from Kaghan Valley, Northern Pakistan
AUTHORS:
Paras Mazari, Quanru Liu, Mir Ajab Khan, Sehrish Sadia, Latif Ahmad
KEYWORDS:
Hypericum, Pollen Fertility, Kaghan Valley, Pollen Morphology, SEM
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.8 No.12,
November
17,
2017
ABSTRACT: Pollen morphology & pollen fertility estimation
of three medicinal species belonging to genus Hypericum L. from flora of Kaghan valley, Northern Pakistan was
investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy for the first time. The
species are Hypericum elodeoides Choisy
in, Hypericum oblongifolium Choisy,
and Hypericum perforatum L. Pollen
morphological characteristics with considerable variation are provided for
these taxa. Among the studied taxa, the pollen grains were 3-4 colporate type and the largest pollen size was found in H. oblongifolium in polar view 23.0 μm and in equatorial view was
25.35 μm. The smallest pollen was of H.
elodeoides in polar view which was 19.91 μm and in equatorial view was
observed 12.53 μm in H. perforatum.
The shape of the all pollen grain was circular to semi-angular in polar view,
however in equatorial view the shape of the grains was oblate-spheroidal, in H. elodeoides, and H. oblongifolium while prolate in H. perforatum. Exine sculpturing was observed by scanning electron
microscopy which showed foveolate sculpturing in H. elodeoides, reticulate in H.
oblongifolium and scabrate in H.
perforatum. Pollen fertility estimation ranged from 82.66% to 90.90% which
shows that flora of selected species is well established.