Comparative palynological survey of the species of Reseda L. (Resedaceae) from Turkey

Abstract

In this study we report the palynological properties of the genus Reseda, which is represented by 18 native taxa in Turkey. In general terms, pollen grains are monad, isopolar, radially symmetrical, oblate-spheroidal to subprolate in equatorial view, circular in polar view, small or medium sized and tricolporate. Pollen grains of R. malatyana are oblate-spheroidal; those of R. alba, R. coodei, R. balansae, R. orientalis, R. anatolica, R. lutea, R. globulosa, R. tomentosa var. tomentosa, R. tomentosa var. glabrata, R. germanicopolitana var. germanicopolitana, R. aucheri subsp. rotundifolia and R. luteola are prolate-spheroidal. Pollen grains of R. armena var. scabridula, R. minoica, R. germanicopolitana var. glabra and R. saadae are subprolate. All pollen grains of the examined Reseda taxa except R. orientalis are small in size. The mean polar axis length is 15.92–29.12 μm, the mean equatorial axis length is 14.20–26.88 μm and the mean amb diameter is 13.30–25.54 μm. The aperture bears a colpus at the top and a pore underneath the colpus. Its membrane is granulate under light microscopy. The margin of the colpus is distinct, whereas that of the pore is indistinct. The exine structure is semitectate, and the sculpture is microreticulate. In terms of details of exine sculpturing, two pollen types are observed: Reseda alba type and Reseda luteola type, or (in other words) reticulate type and rugulate type. It was not possible to separate sections or species of the examined Reseda taxa based on pollen data. The morphological and palynological data should be evaluated together to understand the classification of the genus Reseda in Turkey.