Study of pollen fertility of the hieraciuni and scorzonera [asteraceae] from pakistan

ABSTRACT

Pollen fertility of nine different species, Hieracium umbellatum L., H. virosum Pall., H. vulgatum Fries., Scorzonera ummophila Bunge, S.fusca Kitam., 5. hondae Kitam., 5. laciniate L., S. picridioides Boiss. and S. virgata DC. belonging to family Asteraceae was studied from Pakistan. Morphology of pollen grains of each species is based on specimens selected at random. At species level, micro-morphological characters like pollen fertility differences, distribution of surface pattern, shape and size of pollens have been found to exist. Pollen fertility data shows that Hieraciuni vulgatum and Scorzonera ammophila have highest value i.e. 92.33% and 97.66% respectively. The least value was found in Hieracium virosum [67.66%] and Scorzonera picridioides [79%]. Further cytological studies are required in taxonomy to determine the fertility status in different species. Study f demonstrates the potential of pollen studies in distinguishing some taxonomic groups in the family Asteraceae