POLLEN MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES IN TWENTY ACCESSIONS OF JASMINUM SAMBAC (L.)AIT. FROM KERALA.

The pollen morphology of 20 accessions of Jasminum sambac L.(Ait) collected from different parts of Kerala State were studied. The major palynological features relating to the pollen shape, aperture and exine ornamentation are conserved within the species. The pollen grains were in general spheroidal, medium-sized and 3(4) ? zonocolporate with reticulate exine ornamentation. SEM analysis revealed microvariations relating to the exine components such as muri and lumina. Although these variations were not adequate enough to classify the taxa into palynological groups, certain character associations were observed such as the link between homobrochate condition and oval or ellipsoidal lumina. Four accessions with very short lumina and almost porous exine had spiny projections or pyramidal tapering from their upper mural ends. The phylogenetic significance of such microstructural variations in the pollen exine remain to be evaluated based on SEM studies of the exine architecture including more taxa belonging to the group.