POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF THE GENUS MALUS (ROSACEAE)

Document Type : Regular Paper

Author

Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, I. R. of Iran

Abstract

Pollen morphology of some species of the genus Malus (Rosaceae) was investigated
taxonomically. All species are characteristic by tricolpate pollens. Exine sculpturing is variable but is mostly
striate. However, species may differ in degree of density of ridges and their orientation. The exine patterns in
M. trilobata and M. florentina are very similar and were characterized by short and very branched ridges.
These show clear differences from other species, which have pollen grains with long and unbranched or
slightly branched ridges.

Keywords