Studies of pollen charactristics in plants of fruitless of Tecomella undulata (Sm.) Seem. (Bignoniaceae) in Golparaki region of Jiroft city, Iran

Document Type : Regular Paper

Author

shahid bahonar university of kerman

Abstract

Tecomella undulate, one monospecific genus, is valued for beautiful flowers, resistance against extreme temperature and drought, stabilizing shifting sand dunes, medicinal properties and wood production. In spite of massive flowering, the species is fruitlessness and consequently seedlessness. The present study examines the causes of its sterility indicating on pollen characteristics. Flowers were hand pollinated by pollen of either self or outcross pollen. Some flowers were tagged as open pollination treatment. Pollen structure, in situ and in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth were analyzed. Mature pollen grains are heteromorphic, mostly heterogeneous sized as small and large. Both pollen grains types are prolate and tricolpate with rugulate- reticulate sculpture. Flowers are protandrous and long stylous; a nectariferous tissue secreting abundant nectar exists in the ovary base. No effective pollinator visited flowers during the observation period. No pollen germination and pollen tube growth were observed in self- and cross- pollinated styles and under in vitro conditions. It seems that pollen heterogeneity, lack of pollinators and pollen limitation, the failure of autogamy due to protoandry or long styly as well as self incompatibility are resulted in pollen sterility and seedlessnees. In addition, probably polyploidy and cytomixis affect infertility too that will need to be studied in detail in the future.

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Iranian Journal of Science

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 25 March 2016

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