POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF SOME PLANTS FROM THE GYZMEIDAN MUD VOLCANO (REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of unfavorable conditions of the mud volcano on the morphological features of pollen. Using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopes, the morphology of pollen of 20 species from 14 families of dicotyledonous plants growing on the Gyzmeidan mud volcano (Shamakhi) in the Republic of Azerbaijan has been studied. According to the aperture patterns of the pollen grains in the studied species, there are 5 pollen types: 3-colpate (Brassicaceae, Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae (Hedysarum sericeum), Lamiaceae, Linaceae), 3-colporate (Asteraceae, Cistaceae, Clusiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae), stepanocolporate (Polygalaceae), heteroaperturate (Boraginaceae), pantoporate (Ranunculaceae).No significant deviations of the main morphological features of pollen (shape, outline, size of pollen grains, type and number of apertures, exine sculpture, thickness and ultrastructure of the sporoderm) were found. Most of the studied species have a low percentage of deformed, underdeveloped, morphologically sterile, and atypical pollen grains. The number of deformed pollen grains differs between taxa. It can vary from single grains (most of the studied samples) to 56% in Potentilla pedata. However, its plants from the mud volcano produce less deformed pollen than the control ones (88%). This is most likely a feature of the taxon, rather than the influence of growing conditions.