Phylogenetic and Palynological Study of the Genus Potentilla L. (Rosaceae) in Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract

The phylogeny of the species of Potentilla in Kurdistan Region-Iraq was investigated by using six in-group species and one out-group related genus Sibbaldia parviflora, based on trnL-F intergenic region of chloroplast DNA and internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA. In addition, the pollen morphology of the six species of Potentilla was examined by using Light Microscope (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Individual and combined analysis of trnL-F and ITS sequence data indicated monophyly of the genus Potentilla, the results of bayesian and maximum parsimony displayed three clades of Potentilla with high supports (bs=100%, pp=1.00). The pollen grains appeared tricolporate and prolate-spheroidal, oblate-spheroidal, or oblate; their sizes were small to medium; the outlines varied from circular to ellipsoid; the exine sculpturing type was striate and consists of shallow, fingerprint-like ridges and predominately parallel arranged.