Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus.

The Erica genus has as yet not been investigated satisfactorily in terms of palynology. Its complicated taxonomic system, large number of species, as well as its extensive but disrupted range of occurrence, all contribute to the fact that few researchers have undertaken investigations of this specie...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dorota Wrońska-Pilarek, Piotr Szkudlarz, Jan Bocianowski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6200192?pdf=render
_version_ 1819242757425725440
author Dorota Wrońska-Pilarek
Piotr Szkudlarz
Jan Bocianowski
author_facet Dorota Wrońska-Pilarek
Piotr Szkudlarz
Jan Bocianowski
author_sort Dorota Wrońska-Pilarek
collection DOAJ
description The Erica genus has as yet not been investigated satisfactorily in terms of palynology. Its complicated taxonomic system, large number of species, as well as its extensive but disrupted range of occurrence, all contribute to the fact that few researchers have undertaken investigations of this species. It was assumed that the research results would be representative thanks to a complex comparative analysis of all diagnostical, morphological pollen features performed on properly selected plant material, representing the most important distinguished intrageneric taxons at the present time (45 species from all five subgenera and 22 sections), both discriminated pollen dispersal units (tetrads and monads) as well as the main centres of genus occurrence and diversification (species from Europe, the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and Madagascar). The study revealed that the diagnostic features of the pollen grains studied were: pollen dispersal unit, exine ornamentation, P/E ratio, tetrad diameter (D) and length of polar axis (P). On the basis of these traits, 14 Erica species (six creating monads and eight-tetrads) were distinguished which, in the case of pollen features, constitutes a significant number. Other heaths created small groups, usually containing two or three species, but up to seven species. The present study, based on the highest number of Erica species (45) analysed so far, corroborated the view that an examination of palynological features may assist in clarifying classification systems for the large and taxonomically very difficult Erica genus, in particular, at the level of the subgenus and section, but also at species level. The results obtained indicate the need to continue palynological investigations on the Erica genus.
first_indexed 2024-12-23T14:44:53Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e251df5766c04d9ab9e7f48e450159b6
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-23T14:44:53Z
publishDate 2018-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-e251df5766c04d9ab9e7f48e450159b62022-12-21T17:43:08ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-011310e020455710.1371/journal.pone.0204557Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus.Dorota Wrońska-PilarekPiotr SzkudlarzJan BocianowskiThe Erica genus has as yet not been investigated satisfactorily in terms of palynology. Its complicated taxonomic system, large number of species, as well as its extensive but disrupted range of occurrence, all contribute to the fact that few researchers have undertaken investigations of this species. It was assumed that the research results would be representative thanks to a complex comparative analysis of all diagnostical, morphological pollen features performed on properly selected plant material, representing the most important distinguished intrageneric taxons at the present time (45 species from all five subgenera and 22 sections), both discriminated pollen dispersal units (tetrads and monads) as well as the main centres of genus occurrence and diversification (species from Europe, the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and Madagascar). The study revealed that the diagnostic features of the pollen grains studied were: pollen dispersal unit, exine ornamentation, P/E ratio, tetrad diameter (D) and length of polar axis (P). On the basis of these traits, 14 Erica species (six creating monads and eight-tetrads) were distinguished which, in the case of pollen features, constitutes a significant number. Other heaths created small groups, usually containing two or three species, but up to seven species. The present study, based on the highest number of Erica species (45) analysed so far, corroborated the view that an examination of palynological features may assist in clarifying classification systems for the large and taxonomically very difficult Erica genus, in particular, at the level of the subgenus and section, but also at species level. The results obtained indicate the need to continue palynological investigations on the Erica genus.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6200192?pdf=render
spellingShingle Dorota Wrońska-Pilarek
Piotr Szkudlarz
Jan Bocianowski
Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus.
PLoS ONE
title Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus.
title_full Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus.
title_fullStr Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus.
title_full_unstemmed Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus.
title_short Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus.
title_sort systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from erica ericaceae genus
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6200192?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT dorotawronskapilarek systematicimportanceofmorphologicalfeaturesofpollengrainsofspeciesfromericaericaceaegenus
AT piotrszkudlarz systematicimportanceofmorphologicalfeaturesofpollengrainsofspeciesfromericaericaceaegenus
AT janbocianowski systematicimportanceofmorphologicalfeaturesofpollengrainsofspeciesfromericaericaceaegenus