Floral anatomy and development in Allium species(Amaryllidaceae)

Abstract

One of the largest genera of Amaryllidaceae is Allium, comprising over 1000 species. Native to the Northern Hemisphere (North America, Europe and Asia), many species of this genus are economically important and cultivated for medicinal and food use, such as Allium cepa (onion), A. sativum (garlic) and A. tuberosum (Chinese chives). In this project, the floral anatomy and development of these three species will be analyzed, with the aim of understanding the floral structure, with emphasis on the formation of the gynoecial nectar chambers and their relationship with reproductive biology. Although floral morphology has proven to be useful for the taxonomy of the genus, with some traits indicated as phylogenetic markers, studies on floral anatomy and development are still incipient. Therefore, flowers at different developmental stages will be collected and processed according to usual techniques for analysis under light and scanning electron microscopy. The results will be documented with images and discussed in an ecological and phylogenetic context.