Pollen morphology and variability of Tulipa hungarica Borb

Abstract

Pollen morphology of the endemic species Tulipa hungarica Borb was investigated with the goal of diversity protection and conservation. Morphology of pollen was evaluated using a scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grain was monosulcate with perforate striate exine surface. Also, pollen of T. hungarica showed differences in size, shape, and staining intensity after aceto-orceine treatment. The smallest aceto-orcein treated microspore had a diameter of 13.65 μm, while the largest had a diameter of 60.15 μm. 4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining showed that fifty percent of investigated microspores had one nucleus, and the other half had two nuclei. A rapid method with fluorescein diacetate – FDA was used to determine pollen viability. Up to (80%) of analyzed microspores showed high viability.

Key words: Microspore size, pollen grain, pollen viability, staining intensity, Tulipa.