Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops

Introduction selected, where Poaceae pollen showed a

remarkable increase and a peak value. Two
Pollen morphology is a critical aspect of plant samples from the cultural layers of the Ming-Qing
taxonomy, breeding, and allergen studies. dynasties at the Fuqikou archaeological site were
Different crops exhibit distinct pollen selected, where Poaceae and Brassicaceae
characteristics, which aid in their identification, presented signifi- cantly high values. To ensure
classification, and reproductive biology. Pollen data consistency and accuracy, Poaceae and
grains vary in size, shape, aperture type, and Brassicaceae pollen grains of these samples were
surface ornamentation, influencing plant observed and measured in detail on the same
fertilization and compatibility. slides, which were prepared in earlier studies by
Wang et al. (2009) and Li et al. (2011).
Materials and methods:
All pollen grains were observed and
Modern pollen samples from 30 species of crop photographed in bothpolar and equatorial views at
plants belonging to 18 families were collected a magnification of 600× or 1,000× using a Nikon
from southern China. The herbarium specimens E200 light microscope (LM) equipped with a
were kept in the Quater- nary Environmental COOLSNAP 5.0 camera. The pollen dimensions
Laboratory, School of Earth Science and obtained and given in the description of each
Geological Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University species are the average of measurements of at
(SYSU) and Nanjing Institute of Geology and least 20 pollen grains.
Palaeontology, Chi- nese Academy of Sciences
(NIGPAS). Twenty-seven sam- ples were Pollen Morphology in Major Crop
prepared in the Quaternary Environmental
Labora- tory of SYSU and three were prepared
Groups
at NIGPAS, and a list of investigated species and
Cereals (Poaceae Family)
voucher specimens used in this study, as well as
notes on the crop types, are summarized in Table
Cereal crops, such as wheat (Triticum aestivum),
1. The pollen slides were prepared by mounting
rice (Oryza sativa), and maize (Zea mays), have
pollen grains in glycerin jelly after acetolysis
small, spherical to oblate pollen grains. These
treatment with acetic anhydride and sulphuric acid
grains are typically monoporate (single pore)
in a ratio of 9:1.Ancient sediment samples were
and possess a smooth exine (outer wall). They
selected from two pro- files, the GZ-2 core and
are wind-pollinated (anemophilous) and have
from the Fuqikou archaeological site in southern
lightweight, dry pollen grains that travel easily
China, to detect pollen signals of human activi-
through the air.
ties. The GZ-2 core (22°42.339′N, 113°30.831′E
and 0.68 m a.s.l.) is located in Wanqingsha,
Panyu district in the south- eastern part of the
Pearl river delta plain (Fig. 1), and the top 14 m of
this sediment sequence was deposited since the
Holocene period (Wang et al. 2009). The Fuqikou
archaeo- logical site (29°12′25″N, 108°45′26″E
and 399 m) is located in the Qianjiang district,
Chongqing, upper Yangtze river (Fig. 1). The
whole profile has a depth of 3 m and consists of
cultural layers deposited since the Eastern Zhou
dynasties; the radiocarbon age of the sample from
the bottom of the profile is ca. 5,517 ± 54 cal yrs
BP (Li et al. 2011). Accord- ing to the
characteristics of the pollen spectra, samples from
the GZ-2 core dated to ca. 2,200 cal yrs BP were
Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops
 Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops
Legumes (Fabaceae Family) 3. Industrial Uses: Gums (gum arabic), dyes
(indigo), timber (rosewood).
Leguminous crops, including soybean (Glycine 4. Ecological: Nitrogen fixation improves
max), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), and pea (Pisum soil fertility, important in crop rotation.
sativum), exhibit tricolporate (three furrows and
pores) pollen grains with a reticulate or striate
Examples of Plants:
exine. These plants are predominantly self-
pollinated but can also undergo cross-pollination.  Glycine max (soybean)
 Arachis hypogaea (peanut)
The Fabaceae family, also known as  Pisum sativum (pea)
Leguminosae or the legume family, is one of the  Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean)
largest and most economically important plant  Acacia species (wattles)
families. It includes a wide variety of plants, from
 Albizia julibrissin (mimosa tree)
small herbs to large trees. Here’s a breakdown of
key points about the family:

Key Characteristics:

1. Leaves: Usually compound (pinnate or

palmate), with stipules at the base.
Some have modified leaves like tendrils.
2. Flowers: Often zygomorphic (bilaterally
symmetrical) and typically arranged in
racemes, spikes, or heads. They have
five petals arranged in a characteristic
"papilionaceous" structure (banner,
wings, and keel).
3. Fruit: A legume or pod, which splits open
on two sides when mature to release
seeds.
4. Roots: Many have root nodules Oilseeds (Brassicaceae & Asteraceae Families)
containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria
(Rhizobium), which enrich the soil. Oilseed crops such as mustard (Brassica spp.) and
sunflower (Helianthus annuus) show distinct
Subfamilies: pollen features. Mustard pollen is tricolpate with a
finely reticulate exine, while sunflower pollen is
1. Papilionoideae (Faboideae): large, spheroidal, and echinate (spiny), aiding in
Most common, includes peas, insect pollination (entomophily).
beans, and peanuts.
2. Caesalpinioideae: Less symmetrical Asteraceae:
flowers, includes trees like the
redbud (Cercis). Chrysanthemum coronarium L. (Glebionis
3. Mimosoideae: Small, radial flowers coronaria (L.) Spach var. coronaria, garland
in dense clusters, includes acacias and chrysanthemum) (Plate VI, 1–4, YZ1018, Yang).
mimosas. Pollen grains spherical, circular in equatorial
view, polar axis ca. 20–25 µm, trilobate, circu- lar
Economic Importance: in polar view, equatorial axis ca. 20–25 µm,
tricolpo- rate, colpi slender and long, extending to
1. Food: Beans, lentils, peas, poles, sculpture echinate, echinae wide at base
chickpeas, soybeans, peanuts. and tapering to a point, ca. 3–5 µm long and
2. Forage Crops: Alfalfa, clover. uniformly distributed, columellae clear in optical
cross section of sexine, fine at ends and coarse in
 Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops
middle, exine ca. 3 µm thick.Lactuca sativa L. mainly 23–27 µm, which differ from those of B.
(lettuce) (Plate VI, 5–8, YZ1021, Yang). Pollen
chinensis and B. alboglabra. However, the polar axes
grains spheroidal, ca. 20–30 µm in diameter, tri
of B. campestris and B. parachinensis are mainly 22–
(col) porate, apertures not clear, short colpi and/or
elliptic pori, exine tectate (with a “roof” layer 25 µm, B. parachinensis 20–26 µm, and the statistical
joining the heads of fiducial inference range is larger than that of B.
campestris. Therefore, by using the data from the
com- bined lengths of the equatorial diameter and
polar axis, it is possible to differentiate the pollen
types of these four species.

Many previous studies have suggested that

the pollen mor- phology of Brassicaceae is highly
uniform (Pokrovskaya et al. 1956; Zhang and Wang
1965; Lan and Cheo 1983; Deng and Hu 1995; Wang
et al. 1995; Tang et al. 2005), and although it is easy to
identify pollen at the family level, it is difficult to
identify it at the genus or even the species level. In Fruits (Rosaceae & Solanaceae Families)
this research project, we examined the pollen of four
spe- cies of Brassica, including B. campestris, B. Fruit crops like apple (Malus domestica) and
alboglabra, B. parachinensis and B. chinensis, and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) have pollen
measured their equato- rial diameters and polar axes grains that are generally tricolporate, with a
as well as the longer dimen- sions of the lumina in the reticulate exine. Apple pollen is relatively large,
reticulate sculpturing of the exine. These data can aiding in pollination by bees, whereas tomato
pollen is smaller and sticky, facilitating buzz
then be used for their identification using statistical
pollination by insects.
methods. The lengths of the polar axis P and
equatorial diameter E are as follows; B. campestris P The Rosaceae and Solanaceae families are two
21–26 µm, E 22–28 µm, important plant families, each with unique
characteristics and economic significance. Here's
B. chinensis P 21–35 µm, E 23–35 µm, B. alboglabra P a quick breakdown:
15–26 µm, E 16–27 µm and B. parachinensis P 19–27
µm, E 21–28 µm (Fig. 3, ESM Table 1). The results Rosaceae Family (The Rose Family)
show that the longer dimensions of the exine lumina
are mainly Key Features:

1.5–2.1 µm for pollen from the four species and their  Leaves: Usually alternate, simple or
dis- tribution ranges are highly similar (Fig. 4, ESM compound, often with stipules.
Table 1). Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish them  Flowers: Typically showy, with five
according to the lumen dimensions. However, it is petals and numerous stamens. They are
possible to sepa- rate them by the lengths of the often radially symmetrical.
polar axes and equato- rial diameters. The equatorial
 Fruit Types: A wide variety, including
pomes (like apples), drupes (like cherries),
diameters for B. campestris and B. parachinensis are
and aggregates (like strawberries).
 Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops
Common Plants:

 Fruits: Apples, pears, peaches,

plums, cherries, raspberries,
strawberries.
 Ornamentals: Roses, spiraea, hawthorn.

Economic Importance:

 Major source of fruits worldwide.

 Roses are significant in the floral industry.
 Some members have medicinal uses.

Solanaceae Family (The Nightshade

Family)

Key Features:

 Leaves: Typically alternate, simple,

or lobed without stipules.
 Flowers: Usually five-petaled, often
fused into a tubular or bell shape.
Frequently have a distinctive star-shaped
appearance.
 Fruit Types: Berries or capsules.

Common Plants:

 Vegetables: Tomatoes, potatoes,

eggplants, peppers.
 Spices: Chili peppers.
 Others: Tobacco, petunias (ornamental). Vegetables (Cucurbitaceae & Apiaceae
Families)
Economic Importance:
Vegetable crops such as cucumber (Cucumis
 Vital food crops like potatoes sativus) and carrot (Daucus carota) have diverse
and tomatoes. pollen morphologies. Cucumber pollen is oblate-
 Source of alkaloids like nicotine spheroidal with a scabrate surface, whereas carrot
and medicinal compounds. pollen is tricolporate and finely reticulate,
 Some plants are toxic (e.g., assisting in insect pollination.
deadly nightshade).
Cucurbitaceae Family (The Gourd or
Squash Family)
Do you need more detailed info on any specific Key Features:
plants or characteristics?
 Growth Habit: Mostly herbaceous vines
with tendrils for climbing.
 Leaves: Large, simple, and often lobed or
palmately veined.
 Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops
 Flowers: Unisexual (male and female while others (like poison hemlock) are
flowers on the same or different plants), toxic.
typically yellow or white, with five
petals.
 Fruits: Commonly a pepo (a type of
berry with a hard outer rind).

Common Plants:

 Fruits/Vegetables: Cucumbers, melons

(watermelon, cantaloupe), pumpkins,
squashes, zucchinis, gourds, bitter
melon.

Economic Importance:

 Important for fresh consumption

and processed products (like
pickles).
 Gourds used for utensils, decorations,
and musical instruments.
 Seeds of some species are edible
and nutritious.

Apiaceae Family (The Carrot or

Parsley Family)

Key Features:

 Leaves: Usually alternate, compound,

and finely divided with sheathing leaf
bases.
 Flowers: Small, usually white or
yellow, arranged in umbels (a
characteristic umbrella-shaped cluster).
 Fruits: A schizocarp that splits into
two one-seeded parts.

Common Plants:

 Vegetables: Carrots, parsnips, celery.

 Herbs/Spices: Parsley, cilantro
(coriander), dill, fennel, cumin,
anise, caraway.
 Others: Poison hemlock (notorious for
its toxicity).

Economic Importance:

 Widely used in cooking for flavor

(herbs and spices).
 Carrots and celery are staple vegetables.
 Some species have medicinal uses,
 Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops

Importance of Pollen Morphology in

Agriculture

1. Plant Breeding & Hybridization -

Pollen traits influence cross-
compatibility and hybrid seed
production.

Plant Breeding & Hybridization

1. Plant Breeding

Definition:
Plant breeding is the science-driven process of
improving plants to develop desirable traits
such as higher yield, disease resistance, drought
tolerance, and improved nutritional quality.

Goals of Plant Breeding:

 Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops
 Increased Yield: Developing varieties wheat and rye to get triticale).
that produce more per unit area.
 Disease and Pest Resistance: Creating
plants that are less susceptible to
diseases and pests.
 Abiotic Stress Tolerance: Breeding for
drought, salinity, or temperature
tolerance.
 Improved Quality: Enhancing
nutritional content, taste, shelf life, and
appearance.
 Adaptation: Breeding plants suited
for specific climates or regions.

Methods of Plant Breeding:

1. Selection: Choosing plants with

desirable traits to propagate.
o Mass Selection: Selecting
many plants based on
phenotype.
o Pure Line Selection: Selecting and
propagating the progeny of a
single best plant.
2. Crossbreeding (Hybridization):
Combining traits from two different plants.
3. Mutation Breeding: Using chemicals or
radiation to induce mutations, selecting
useful mutants.
4. Polyploidy Breeding: Increasing the
number of chromosome sets to
develop new traits.
5. Genetic Engineering: Inserting specific
genes directly into a plant’s genome
(e.g., GMOs).

2. Hybridization

Definition:
Hybridization is the process of crossing two
genetically different plants to produce offspring,
or hybrids, with desirable traits from both parents.

Types of Hybridization:

1. Intraspecific Hybridization:
o Within the same species (e.g.,
two varieties of rice).
2. Interspecific Hybridization:
o Between different species of the
same genus (e.g., crossing
 Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops
3. Intergeneric Hybridization:
o Between different genera (rare
but possible, like crossing some
grasses).

Steps in Hybridization:

1. Selection of Parents: Choose plants

with desirable traits.
2. Emasculation: Removal of anthers
(male parts) to prevent self-pollination.
3. Pollination: Transfer pollen from
one parent to the emasculated
flower.
4. Bagging: Covering the pollinated
flowers to prevent contamination.
5. Harvesting and Growing Hybrids:
Collecting seeds and growing the
next generation.

Advantages of Hybridization:

 Hybrid Vigor (Heterosis): Hybrids

often show superior qualities like higher
yield, better growth, and resistance.
 Combination of Traits: Merging
traits from two different plants (e.g.,
drought tolerance from one and high
yield from another).

Disadvantages:

 Costly and Time-Consuming:

Requires expertise and resources.
 Dependency on Seed Companies:
Hybrids often don’t breed true in the next
generation, so farmers must buy new
seeds annually.

Examples:

 Hybrid Crops:
o Maize hybrids for high yield.
o Tomato hybrids for better
disease resistance and shelf life.
o Triticale (wheat × rye) for
combining the hardiness of
rye with the yield of wheat.
 Pollen Morphology Of Different Crops

2. Taxonomy & Identification - Pollen

features aid in distinguishing closely Conclusion
related species.
. This paper presents the pollen morphological
data from rep- resentative crop plants of 30
species belonging to 18 families in southern
China. Examination of the pollen grains dem-
onstrates that most of them can be accurately
identified to genus or species level as crop plants
according to anatomi- cal features such as pollen
size, apertures and exine sculp- ture. Some of the
wild ancestors and cultivated crops can be
distinguished by using both morphological and
biometric data. For Brassicaceae pollen, the
equatorial diameter and length of the polar axis
and the greater lumen dimension are potentially
diagnostic to distinguish some brassicaceous
vegetables, such as B. campestris (B. rapa,
oilseed rape, Chi- nese cabbage), B. alboglabra
(B. oleracea var. alboglabra, cabbage mustard), B.
parachinensis (B. rapa ssp. parachin- ensis, choi
3. Allergenicity Studies - Pollen grain sum) and B. chinensis (B. rapa ssp. chinensis, pak
structure helps assess potential choi).
allergic reactions in humans.
Reference:

1. Chat gpt

2. Google search engine

3. Pollen Morphology and Plant

Taxonomy: Angiosperms(Gunnar Erdtman

Brill Archive, 1986 - Nature - 553 pages

)
4. Pollination Efficiency - Understanding
pollen morphology enhances the 4. Pollen morphology of selected crop plants
selection of pollinators for crop from southern China and testing pollen
improvement. morphological data in an archaeobotanical study
Artical