Changes of sizes and shape of pollen grains and leaves of Nymphaea alba, N. candida and N. tetragona (Nymphaeaceae) after traditional means of treatment of fresh plants

P.A. Volkova

Volkova P.A. Changes of sizes and shape of pollen grains and leaves of Nymphaea alba, N. candida and N. tetragona (Nymphaeaceae) after traditional means of treatment of fresh plants // The materials of the White Sea Expedition of Moscow South-West High School. Vol. 6 [Electronic resourse]. 2006. Mode of access: http://herba.msu.ru/shipunov/belomor/english/2006/nym_ch.htm

[Full Russian text with figures]

Abstract

Shape and size of leaf blades and pollen grains are important diagnostical characters in many plant groups. However, quantitative investigations of changes of fresh plants during traditional treatments are almost lacking. We made quantitative investigations of changes of shape and size of fresh leaf blades during herbarization and also of pollen grains after acetolysis and in fine vacuum during SEM for Nymphaea species in the European Russia. We found out that during herbarization the length of the leaf blade decreases in 1,05-1,4 times and its width decreases in 1,15-1,5 times. Longtitudinal deformations of the leaf blade are not correlated significantly with its transversal deformations. There are no significant differences in size of pollen grains from one flower before and after acetolysis. Fine vacuum, which is essential for SEM, causes evident deformations of pollen grains (small equatorial diameter decreases sufficiently while big equatorial diameter remains almost constant).

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