Pollen morphology of morning-glory species: pollen grains of Ipomoea L. and Distimake Raf.

Abstract

The present study aims at the morphological characterization of pollen grains of weed species of Distimake and Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae), analyzing and describing the pollen grains of taxa widely known for their economic potential in agricultural practices. In addition, the study aims to expand knowledge of weeds through the morphological characterization of the studied species, thus evidencing data that may help in their identification. Pollen grains of 10 species (13 varieties) will be studied, for which the pollen grains will be acetolyzed, measured, described, and photographed under light microscopy, and when necessary, photographs will be taken under scanning electron microscopy to observe the exine ornamentation. Qualitative data will be described for the possible establishment of pollen types and/or distinction of taxa; the quantitative data will be measured and will receive statistical treatment appropriate to the size of the samples. A multivariate analysis will be performed to discriminate which pollen characters contribute to the grouping of the analyzed taxa.