Differences in the structure of pollen in the ‘Senga Sengana’ and ‘Selva’ cultivars of Fragaria × ananasa

Abstract

The strawberry belongs to one of the youngest species of arable crops. The study aimed to analyze pollen's structure in the ‘Senga Sengana’ and ‘Selva’ cultivars of Fragaria × ananassa. The strawberry is a dicotyledonous plant from the Rosaceae family. The article presents research carried out on Fragaria × ananassa cv. ‘Senga Sengana’ and ‘Selva’ collected during flowering. Pollen mor-phology was examined using a scanning electron microscope and a traditional optical microscope. The results showed that fresh pollen outnumbered dead pollen, confirming that the ‘Senga Sengana’ culti-var produces larger amounts of fertile pollen. Mature ‘Senga Sengana’ pollen grains are characterized by a specific sculpture of the exine walls. The analysis of Selva pollen grains revealed substantial changes in the structure of the sporoderm during its maturation. It becomes thicker and, as the size of the pollen grain increases, the exine layer becomes more elaborate.