Seed Morphology variation in Silene italica (Caryophyllaceae) at the population level in Iran

Silene sect. Paniculatae is represented by 2 species in the Flora Iranica area of which Silene italica (L.) Pers. is known in geographical boundaries of Iran. In this study seed micromorphological variation of three populations of the species is investigated by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to evaluation its taxonomic importance for the first time in Iran. The mature seeds were collected from natural habitats. 18 quantitative and qualitative seed micromorphological characters were measured based on micrographs of three studied populations. The studied populations shows differences in some characters, especially in seeds shape, the shape of testa cells, the situation of dorsal face and the seeds dimension. The shape of seeds are symmetrical reniform in tangeh gol and Kelardasht populations, while it is asymmetrical reniform in Shahdej population. The dimension of seeds varies from 1.37 × 0.74 mm. in Shahdej population to 1.57 × 0.96 mm. in Kelardasht population. The lateral surface of all populations is concave. The seeds of Tangeh gol population have a short wing in concave dorsal surface. Two types of edge of seed coat cells; V and U form are observed in studied populations. All populations have papillated sculpturing in testa cells. The results are in accordance with the studies of Dandi and Yildiz (2015) in most seed micromorphology features

Keywords:

Seed micromorphology , Papillate sculpture , Scanning Electron Microscope , Silene italica