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More of almost the same: novel pollen descriptions uncover subtle morphological variation in Mimosa L. (Leguminosae, Mimoseae)

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Author(s):
Liau-Kang, Stefany ; Barduzzi, Rafael Fernandes ; Calderon, Gaston Lozano ; Marega Junior, Euclydes ; Simon, Marcelo Fragomeni ; Ribeiro dos Santos, Francisco de Assis ; Borges, Leonardo Maurici
Total Authors: 7
Document type: Journal article
Source: Rev. bras. Bot.; v. 47, n. 4, p. 20-pg., 2024-12-01.
Abstract

Pollen is a source of information on the reproduction, ecology, evolution, and systematics of plants. Mimosa, one of the largest genera in Leguminosae, has pollen organized in tetrads or polyads, with variation in the arrangement, ornamentation, and size of grains. Despite such morphological diversity, pollen has been described for less than 25% of the more than 600 species in the genus. Here, we increase the current knowledge about Mimosa pollen disparity by extending taxon sampling to 31%. Samples were studied under light and scanning electron microscopy. Novel pollen descriptions and data gathered from the literature were used to infer a pollen morphospace and calculate Mimosa pollen disparity. We find tetrads to be the main dispersion unit, but some taxa also present 8, 12 or 16-grained polyads. Dispersal unities vary in the disposition of pollen grains and size, while grain ornamentation, number of pores and type of aperture were less variable. Analyses revealed an increase in morphological disparity after novel descriptions and an uneven distribution of such variation across major Mimosa clades. Our results expanded the taxonomic breadth of Mimosa pollen diversity, filling gaps and suggesting that although the general picture of pollen morphology in Mimosa is well-defined, the boundaries of its variation remain to be explored. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 20/04835-3 - Controlling the polarization state of rare earth emissions in tellurite glasses from plasmonic nano antennas
Grantee:Gaston Lozano Calderón
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 22/03046-0 - The role of modularity and integration in the evolution of plant morphological diversity
Grantee:Leonardo Maurici Borges
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project
FAPESP's process: 13/07276-1 - CEPOF - Optics and Photonic Research Center
Grantee:Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
FAPESP's process: 20/07423-8 - Pollen disparity in the Piptadenia group (Leguminosae): differences between lineages and ecological groups
Grantee:Rafael Fernandes Barduzzi Lopes
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation