Abstract
Studies on spermoderm using scanning electron microscope (SEM) were undertaken in 12 taxa under 11 genera of the family Cucurbitaceae sampled from India, China and Korea. The spermoderm pattern in the studied taxa varies from rugulate, reticulate to colliculate type. The spermoderm shows rugulate type in Benincasa hispida and Sicyos angulatus; reticulate type in Citrullus colocynthis, Cucumis melo var. agrestis, Diplocyclos palmatus, Hemsleya longivillosa, Luffa echinata, Momordica charantia, M. cymbalaria, Schizopepon bryoniifolius, and Trichosanthes cucumerina; and colliculate type in Gynostemma laxiflorum. The present study clearly reveals that the testa features greatly varies across the genera which can be used as micromorphological markers for identification as well as character states for deducing relationship of the taxa within the family.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v20i1.15465Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 20(1): 61-65, 2013 (June)
Highlights
Spermoderm refers to the pattern present on the seed coat of mature seeds
The most important diagnostic characters for the genera and tribes of Cucurbitaceae come from androecium and gynoecium morphology, type of tendril branching, pollen structure and seed coat (Jeffrey, 2005)
The main objective of the present study is to evaluate taxonomic significance of spermoderm pattern in some members of the family Cucurbitaceae
Summary
Spermoderm refers to the pattern present on the seed coat of mature seeds. Seed characteristic, exomorphic features as revealed by scanning electron microscopy, have been used by many workers in resolving taxonomic problems (Koul et al, 2000; Pandey and Ali, 2006) and evolutionary relationships (Kumar et al, 1999; Segarra and Mateu, 2001).Cucurbitaceae, with c. 800 species under 130 genera (Schaefer and Renner, 2011) are among the economically most important plant families (Kirtikar and Basu, 1975; Chakravarty, 1982; Ali and Pandey, 2006). 800 species under 130 genera (Schaefer and Renner, 2011) are among the economically most important plant families (Kirtikar and Basu, 1975; Chakravarty, 1982; Ali and Pandey, 2006). 50 contains single species, which illustrates the difficulties in deducing relationships within the family. Jeffrey (2005) divided the family Cucurbitaceae into 11 tribes under two subfamilies viz., the Nhandiroboideae (Zanonioideae, with 60 species under 19 genera) and Cucurbitoideae The most important diagnostic characters for the genera and tribes of Cucurbitaceae come from androecium and gynoecium morphology, type of tendril branching, pollen structure and seed coat (Jeffrey, 2005). Schaefer and Renner (2011) have divided the family Cucurbitaceae into 95 genera in 15 tribes. The testa of Cucurbitaceae is formed by the outer integument and consists of a lignified epidermis, a hypodermis is of one or many layers of sclerotic cells, and an inner one-layered protective cover that in mature seeds is heavily lignified (Singh and Dathan, 2001)
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