Seed structure of some taxa of the genus Crocus L. (Iridaceae) series Crocus

Mehmet Cengiz Karai̇smai̇loğlu,Osman Erol,Levent Şik,Almıla Çi̇ftçi̇

doi:10.3906/bot-1712-17

Abstract

In this study, the macro- and micromorphological seed characteristics of the genus Crocus L. series Crocus taxa, including C. pallasii , C. turcicus , C. dispathaceus , C. asumaniae , C. mathewii , C. thomasii , C. oreocreticus , and C. cartwrightianus , were observed. Morphological characteristics, such as the size, shape, color, and seed surface structures, were analyzed using stereo and scanning electron microscopes. Testa layer structures including the outer and inner testae, phytomelan layer structure and thickness, and seed endosperm cell features were studied. Differences in the seed, raphe size, seed surface patterns, inner testa features, and phytomelan layer thickness were observed at an interspecific level. The results revealed differences in the seed morphology and anatomy with a few exceptions.

Highlights

Crocus L. (Iridaceae) comprises 235 taxa (Petersen et al, 2008; Kerndorff and Pasche, 2011; Peruzzi and Carta, 2011; Carta et al, 2015; Ruksans, 2017), and is distributed from West Europe and Northwest Africa to West China, with the center of species diversity in the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey
Different conventional morphological features used in Crocus taxonomy with regards to possibly distinguishing monophyletic groups within the genus have been reported in the literature (Harpke et al, 2012, 2014; Carta et al, 2015), in which it was found that none of the traditional morphological features were suitable for discriminating Crocus sections or series
This status has caused some problems in their classification; additional characteristics that can assist the existing diagnostics are needed for the classification of Crocus taxa

Summary

Introduction

Crocus L. (Iridaceae) comprises 235 taxa (Petersen et al, 2008; Kerndorff and Pasche, 2011; Peruzzi and Carta, 2011; Carta et al, 2015; Ruksans, 2017), and is distributed from West Europe and Northwest Africa to West China, with the center of species diversity in the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey. Different conventional morphological features used in Crocus taxonomy with regards to possibly distinguishing monophyletic groups within the genus have been reported in the literature (Harpke et al, 2012, 2014; Carta et al, 2015), in which it was found that none of the traditional morphological features were suitable for discriminating Crocus sections or series. This status has caused some problems in their classification; additional characteristics that can assist the existing diagnostics are needed for the classification of Crocus taxa. Crocus seed studies require the cultivation of related taxa and capsule and seed harvesting should be done carefully

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion