Pollen micromorphology, together with functional and nutritional traits, provides an important set of diagnostic features for plant identification and characterization. Functional traits such as viability, germination, tube elongation, and mineral composition serve as indicators of pollen quality and play a critical role in fertilization success, thereby providing valuable insights for developing effective breeding strategies. In this study, pollen micromorphology and functional traits were analysed across five infraspecific African oil palm accessions Elaeis guineensis (Zambia), E. guineensis (Guinea Bissau), E. guineensis (Tanzania), E. guineensis (Cameroon), E. guineensis (Nigeria), and one Elaeis oleifera accession, one interspecific hybrid (E. oleifera × E. guineensis morphotype pisifera), and the widely used pollen donor, E. guineensis morphotype pisifera. Distinct differences in surface morphology and exine ornamentation were observed: E. guineensis (Cameroon), E. guineensis (Nigeria), and E. guineensis (Tanzania) showed rugulate-perforate sculpturing; E. guineensis (Guinea Bissau), E. guineensis (Zambia), and E. oleifera × E. guineensis morphotype pisifera displayed fossulate-perforate sculpturing; while E. guineensis morphotype pisifera and E. oleifera exhibited perforate-fossulate sculpturing. Pollen dimensions varied, with polar diameter ranging from 21.12 to 28.02 µm and equatorial diameter from 39.21 to 50.25 µm. Pollen grains were typically euoblate with a triangular obtuse concave polar outline and a scabrate to micro reticulate tectum. Functional analysis revealed wide variation, with viability ranging from 21.35% in E. oleifera to 100% in E. guineensis (Tanzania), a trend also reflected in germination (3.65%–88.42%) and tube length (340.96–3164.62 μm). Mineral composition also differed significantly among accessions: E. guineensis (Guinea Bissau) recorded the highest nitrogen (6.99%), E. guineensis (Zambia) the highest phosphorus (0.30%) and potassium (0.20%), while E. guineensis morphotype pisifera, E. oleifera, and E. guineensis (Nigeria) exhibited the highest calcium (4.30%), magnesium (1.85%), and boron (64 ppm), respectively. These findings demonstrate that pollen traits are powerful indicators of genetic diversity, and are valuable tools for accession differentiation, conservation and crop improvement programs in oil palm.

Pollen micromorphology and functional traits as indicators of genetic diversity in Elaeis spp.

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发表日期：

2026年4月17日

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M. Neema,
S. Suresh,
G. Somasundaram,
S. G. Silpa,
R. P. Premalatha,
P. Anitha,
G. M. Aswathy

摘要

Pollen micromorphology, together with functional and nutritional traits, provides an important set of diagnostic features for plant identification and characterization. Functional traits such as viability, germination, tube elongation, and mineral composition serve as indicators of pollen quality and play a critical role in fertilization success, thereby providing valuable insights for developing effective breeding strategies. In this study, pollen micromorphology and functional traits were analysed across five infraspecific African oil palm accessions Elaeis guineensis (Zambia), E. guineensis (Guinea Bissau), E. guineensis (Tanzania), E. guineensis (Cameroon), E. guineensis (Nigeria), and one Elaeis oleifera accession, one interspecific hybrid (E. oleifera × E. guineensis morphotype pisifera), and the widely used pollen donor, E. guineensis morphotype pisifera. Distinct differences in surface morphology and exine ornamentation were observed: E. guineensis (Cameroon), E. guineensis (Nigeria), and E. guineensis (Tanzania) showed rugulate-perforate sculpturing; E. guineensis (Guinea Bissau), E. guineensis (Zambia), and E. oleifera × E. guineensis morphotype pisifera displayed fossulate-perforate sculpturing; while E. guineensis morphotype pisifera and E. oleifera exhibited perforate-fossulate sculpturing. Pollen dimensions varied, with polar diameter ranging from 21.12 to 28.02 µm and equatorial diameter from 39.21 to 50.25 µm. Pollen grains were typically euoblate with a triangular obtuse concave polar outline and a scabrate to micro reticulate tectum. Functional analysis revealed wide variation, with viability ranging from 21.35% in E. oleifera to 100% in E. guineensis (Tanzania), a trend also reflected in germination (3.65%–88.42%) and tube length (340.96–3164.62 μm). Mineral composition also differed significantly among accessions: E. guineensis (Guinea Bissau) recorded the highest nitrogen (6.99%), E. guineensis (Zambia) the highest phosphorus (0.30%) and potassium (0.20%), while E. guineensis morphotype pisifera, E. oleifera, and E. guineensis (Nigeria) exhibited the highest calcium (4.30%), magnesium (1.85%), and boron (64 ppm), respectively. These findings demonstrate that pollen traits are powerful indicators of genetic diversity, and are valuable tools for accession differentiation, conservation and crop improvement programs in oil palm.