Murat Ekici

Seed morphology and its systematic implications for genus Astragalus L. sections Onobrychoidei DC., Uliginosi Gray and Ornithopodium Bunge (Fabaceae)

Forty-eight species of Astragalus L. sections Onobrychoidei DC., Uliginosi Gray and Ornithopodium Bunge (Fabaceae) in Turkey were studied in order to describe and investigate their seed morphologies and to evaluate the diagnostic value of this character using a stereoscopic microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM pictures of seeds were taken as a whole and in detail. The systematic implications of the findings are discussed. Six main seed types were observed. A key to identifying the different seed types is provided.

Karyomorphological studies on section Bucerates Boiss. of Trigonella L. (Leguminosae) from Turkey

Abstract The Karyomorphology of all taxa of section Bucerates Boiss. genus Trigonella L. (Leguminosae) were made using Image Analysis System. The chromosome numbers of 14 taxa of Trigonella (2n = 16), T. fischeriana Ser. and T. monantha C.A.Meyer subsp. noeana (Boiss.) Hub.-Mor. (2n = 14), T. monantha C.A.Meyer subsp. monantha Verz. (2n = 16, 28, 30) and T. orthoceras Kar. & Kir. (2n = 16, 46) were counted. B chromosomes were observed on T. arcuata C.A.Meyer. and there were two chromosomes with a satellite in T. crassipes Boiss. In the section Bucerates, 12 taxa of Trigonella showed tetraploidy, with 2n = 32 and two taxa of Trigonella had hexaploidy (2n = 48). The range of chromosome length ranged from 3.26 μm to 0.56 μm. Whereas T. orthoceras had the longest chromosome length, T. monantha subsp. monantha had shortest.

Comparative seed morphology of Trigonella L. species (Leguminosae) in Turkey

Seeds morphology of 37 taxa of Trigonella L. from various regions in Turkey were examined with a scanning electron microscope and light microscope. Based on seed features such as shape, colour and surface ornamentation pattern, 7 morphological types were recognized. Type I have scabrated seed surface and this is only observed in section Samaroideae, Type II have verrucated seed surface, Type III have rugulated seed surface and a further classification has been made on the basis of vart, as those rugulate-verrucate (Trigonella lunata in section Lunatae, Trigonella isthmocarpa and Trigonella rhytidocarpa in section Isthmocarpae and Trigonella gladiata in section Foenum-graecum) and granule as those rugulate-granulate (only Trigonella carica in section Bucerates). Type IV is show ruminated seed surface. Type V have aculeated seed surface. This ornamentation are observed in section Cylindricae, section Reflexae and section Biebersteinionae and Section Cylindricae. Type VI are the ones with ridged-tuberculated-verrucated seed surface and this type has been observed in the section Bucerates, Reflexae, Uncinatae and some species of Foenum-graecum. Type VII have tuberculated seed surface and this is only observed in section Capitata. The different seed types are described, illustrated compared and their taxonomic importance is discussed. The seed surface ornamentations of taxa shows considerable variations. This character have importance in systematic discrimination of taxa. Key words: Trigonella, Fabaceae, seed morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscopy (LM), Turkey.

Pollen morphology of Astragalus L. section Hololeuce Bunge (Fabaceae) in Turkey

Abstract Pollen morphology of 15 taxa belonging to the section Hololeuce Bunge of genus Astragalus L. species was investigated by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen slides were prepared using a Wodehouse technique. Measurements were based on 20 or more pollen grains per specimen. For scanning electron microscopy studies, dried pollen grains were transferred on aluminium stubs and coated with gold for 4 min in a sputter-coater. The pollen grains of Hololeuce taxa are radially symmetric and isopolar. The pollen grains of the taxa are prolate–spheroidal, subprolate or prolate with the polar axes 21.42–32.93 μm and the equatorial axes 17.13–28.26 μm. The pollen grains are operculate and trizonocolporate. Syncolporate. Colpi were usually long and narrow (Clt: 4.13–6.68 μm, Clg: 16.56–26.52 μm), subterminal, membrane granulate or verrucate. Pores were found to be longate or circular (Plg: 5.01–7.82 μm, Plt: 5.31–8.69 μm). Operculum membrane ornamentation verrucate, granulate, rugulate and reticulate. Pollen grains show reticulate, perforate polar section and perforate, reticulate, microreticulate, perforate–granulate, microreticulate–perforate, microrugulate–perforate, microrugulate–microreticulate, granulate–perforate, microreticulate–granulate at meridional sections. Exine is subtectate and has a thickness of 1.08–1.30 μm. Ectexine is thicker than endexine. Intine has a thickness of 0.5–0.68 μm. As result of this study some pollen characteristic as pollen shape, aperture type and ornamentations are shown to vary within the section Hololeuce. Especially pollen surface ornamentation on polar section and meridional section has systematic value to distinguish taxa from each other.

Karyotype analyses of ten sections of Trigonella (Fabaceae).

Abstract Karyotypes of ten sections of genus Trigonella Linnaeus, 1753 (Fabaceae) from Turkey were investigated. Somatic chromosome numbers of examined species were determined as 2n=14 and 16. The karyotype analyses of the species were carried out and somatic chromosome numbers of Trigonella plicata Boiss., 1872, Trigonella brachycarpa (Fisch.) Moris, 1833, Trigonella rostrata Boiss., 1872, Trigonella lunata Boiss., 1843, Trigonella isthmocarpa Boiss. et Balansa 1856, Trigonella rhytidocarpa Boiss. et Balansa, 1859, Trigonella spicata Sibth. et Sm., 1813, Trigonella cephalotes Boiss. et Balansa 1856, Trigonella capitata Boiss., 1843 and Trigonella gladiata Steven, 1808 were reported for the first time. Two pairs of satellite metaphase chromosomes were observed in Trigonella cariensis Boiss., 1843 and one pair in Trigonella lunata.Moreover, 2 B-chromosomes were found only in Trigonella procumbens Rchb., 1830 among all studied species. The aims of this study are to provide karyological data for a significant pool of the taxa, to show differences among them in the number, size and morphology of somatic chromosomes, to verify previous reports or represent numbers which are different from those cited previously.

Scrophularia clematidifolia: an enigmatic species from Turkey and its comparison with Scrophularia scopolii var. nusairiensis (Scrophulariaceae)

Abstract Scrophularia clematidifolia (Scrophulariaceae) has been rediscovered in Hatay, Turkey. It is closely related to Scrophularia scopolii var. nusairiensis, but it clearly differs from the other species in terms of leaves, inflorescence and fruit features. A taxonomic description, some photographs of the species, geographical distribution and habitat features are given. Additionally, seed macro-micromorphology and pollen characteristics of S. clematidifolia are compared with the close relative species using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The Essential Oil of Pentapleura subulifera Hand.-Mazz.

Abstract A water-distilled essential oil from the aerial parts of Pentapleura subulifera Hand.-Mazz., was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Fifty-three components were characterized representing 95.9% of the oil with 1,8-cineole (39.0%) and T-cadinol (11.1%) as major constituents.