Search

In this work, embryos of selected Vicia species were examined to reveal the micromorphological characters that could have taxonomic significance. Experimental results show that morphological characters such as cotyledons shape and colour, radicle shape, colour and position, plumule colour and stipular parts attachments are variable and could be used for taxa identification in the genus Vicia. Numerical analysis based on 38 micromorphological characters was used to build a phenogram that indicated the relationships among the studied taxa. In addition, an identification key using embryo characters was prepared for Vicia species. The variability of embryo characters were discussed in the taxonomic context. Although the embryo characters have only limited phylogenetic signal for Vicia species, they might be used for their morphological delimitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to evaluate the significance of embryo and seedling characters in the taxonomy of genus Trigonella L. Embryo and seedling morphology of 33 accessions of the genus belonging to 9 sections were examined using stereo-microscopy. Observation showed considerable variations among the studied taxa. The different types of embryos and seedlings were illustrated, compared and analyzed based on morphological characters such as cotyledons shape and colour, radicle shape and position, prophyl leaf shape and margin and their taxonomic importance were discussed. Our phenetic analysis partially supported the sectional classification of section Falcatulae and Foenum-graecum based on existing morphological data. However, section Callicerates seemed to be more closely related to section Cylindricae and not to section Verae, that is not consistent with the phylogenetic analysis and morphological features. Thus, we can say that embryo and seedlings characters are taxonomically important but cannot be used alone for sectional classification of Trigonella . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]