Pollen morphology of Basmati cultivars (Oryza sativa race Indica) – exine surface ultrastructure

Abstract

Pollen morphological studies using LM and SEM have been carried out on six cultivars of Basmati – a variety of cultivated species Oryza sativa race Indica. SEM study at a magnification of ×20,000 revealed distinct variations in pollen exine surface patterns, in relation to the arrangements of fine surface excrescences (spinules or granules) and their clustering patterns forming small areas or insulae. Three distinctly different insular patterns occur in cultivars Basmati-370, Karnal local and Type-9. Cultivar Bakul Joha is characterized by free spinules. Mixed type i.e. both free and fused excrescences were observed in cultivars Bengali Joha and Bhog Maniki but they can be differentiated on the basis of the dimensions of the excrescences.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to Dr. S.N. Chakrabarti, IARI for providing pollen materials. Thanks are due to Dr. P. Pushpangadan, Director, NBRI for encouragement.