Palynological diversity in the Rosaceae flora of Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
摘要
The pollen morphology of the Rosaceae was investigated using light microscopy, despite its systematic implications. The main aim of this study was to verify the taxonomic significance of the pollen traits studied in 25 species and collected from different localities in Swat district, northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In the present study, we have assessed both the qualitative and quantitative characteristics, including pollen form, size, and surface features. The pollen types were categorized into tetracolpate, tricolpate, and tricolporate in all the studied species. Significant variations were recorded in exine thickness, polar and equatorial diameters, colpi sizes, pore sizes, and polar to equatorial ratio (P/E ratio). The highest pollen fertility (94.79%) was recorded in Prunus avium, while the lowest (51.89%) was recorded in Rosa webbiana. Hence, ordination and clustering analyses were performed to determine relationships among the studied species. In addition, ordination and clustering analyses extend the knowledge of their pollen morphology, investigating whether pollen traits can help in the phylogenetic optimization of the taxa studied.