Pollen morphology of Myrtaceae visited by social bees

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize species of Myrtaceae belonging to genera already identified in the pollen spectrum of beehive products of social bees, describing pollen grains morphology and correlating with taxonomic differences the species reported in the literature. For each plant species, measurements were made with 25 pollen grains in equatorial view and the polar diameter (PD) and equatorial diameter (ED) were measured. The exine thickness was obtained by measuring 10 pollen grains in polar view at the medium height of mesocolpium. The description of pollen morphology showed that pollen grains of the species are triangular amb, 3-colporates, psilate surface, small to medium size and oblate shape with the P/E ratio ranging from 0.52 to 0.72 µm. The morphological description of Myrtaceae species showed similarity between several characteristics common to pollen grains of this species. The description also allowed separation of nine species studied by size and specific morphological characters with the identification key, which can also be used to study the pollen spectrum of hive products.