Pollen morphology of selected species of native Amazonian fruit trees occurring in Brazil

Abstract

Approximately 500 native edible fruits are known from Brazil with nearly 50% of these occurring in the Amazon. Pollen morphology of Brazilian plant species is poorly known yet it is important for scientific research. The aim of this study is to document the pollen morphology of 30 native edible fruit species belonging to 13 families. Following acetolysis the pollen was examined by light microscopy. Pollen grains ranged from small to very large. Prolate spheroidal and subprolate shapes predominated in most species, and most pollen grains had outline triangular to subtriangular. Polyads, tetrads and monads were observed, and the aperture arrangement varied from inarperturate to colpate and colporate, with the majority being 3-colporate and having a reticulate sexine. The species documented will contribute to pollen flora of Brazil and the information used in melissopalynollogical studies.