Morphological Characteristics of Pollen Grains in Nine Vicia Forages

Purpose To reveal the morphological characteristics of pollen grains in nine Vicia forages, providing an important morphological basis for the classification of plants in this genus.

Methods The morphology of pollen grains from nine Vicia forages was observed by scanning electron microscope.

Results All the pollens from nine Vicia forages were single-grained, all of which were flat spherical in shape, the equatorial view was oblateness, the polar view was three-lobed circles or triangles, the germination pores were all three-channel, and the ornamentation was reticulate or brain-like. The variation coefficient of pollen grains morphological characteristics of the nine Vicia forages ranged from 0.00% to 34.40%, and the genetic diversity index ranged from 0.00 to 1.68. These morphological characteristics displayed rich genetic polymorphism.

Conclusion Based on pollen grain morphology, the evolution of V. multijuga (Boiss.) Rech.f., V. cracca L. and V. sativa L. is relatively primitive, while the evolution of V. tetrasperma (L.) Schreb., V. villosa Roth and V. villosa Roth (hairy vetch) was relatively advanced.