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The present study investigates the pollen morphology of 12 species belonging to the genera Ammannia, Lythrum, and Rotala of the family Lythraceae in Iran using light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The pollen grains are oblate, suboblate, oblate spheroidal, spheroidal, prolate spheroidal, subprolate and prolate, tricolporate with three or six alternating pseudocolpi (heteroaperturate), striate or rugulate exine sculpturing, microverrucate to microbaculate and microechinate colpus membrane, microverrucate to microbaculate, and psilate pseudocolpi membrane sculpturing types. The results revealed that these characters are taxonomically informative and can be used to identify the three studied genera and their species. We used multivariate analysis to understand the importance of pollen morphological data in determining genera and species relationships. Our findings revealed that the pollen qualitative traits have significant role in determining the generic delimitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Baylisascaris devosi is an intestinal nematode found in several carnivores including fisher, wolverine, Beech marten, American marten and sable in different parts of the world, but this nematode has not been reported from Pine marten. Therefore, this study aimed to identify Baylisascaris isolated from a Pine marten in Iran using morphological and molecular approaches. Methods: Specimens of B. devosi were collected from one road-killed Pine marten in northern Iran. Morphological features were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis and ion sectioning. The molecular characterization was carried out using partial Cox1, LSU rDNA and ITS-rDNA genes. Results: The nematodes isolated from the Pine marten were confirmed to be B. devosi based on the morphological features and the sequence of ribosomal and mitochondrial loci. X-ray scans (EDAX) were completed on gallium cut structures (papillae, eggs, male spike and mouth denticles) of B. devosi using a dual-beam scanning electron microscope. The male spike and mouth denticles had a high level of hardening elements (Ca, P, S), helping to explain the chemical nature and morphology of the worm. Based on these genetic marker analyses, our sequence had the greatest similarity with Russian B. devosi isolated from sable. Conclusions: In this study, to our knowledge, the occurrence of B. devosi infection in Pine marten is reported for the first time. Molecular analysis showed that these three genes are suitable molecular markers for identification and inferring phylogenetic relationships of Baylisascaris species. Furthermore, the high divergence of Cox1 between Baylisascaris species indicates that Cox1 could be used for their phylogenetic and taxonomic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2016 and 2018, Lactuca undulata plants showing symptoms typical of white blister rust were collected in the province of South Khorasan, Iran. Phylogenetic analysis resolved the position of specimens in the genus Pustula. The specimens were characterised by oospore size and ornamentation, and size of secondary sporangia. In addition to morphology, phylogenetic analysis also suggests a new species for the genus distinct from other established Pustula species, which is described here as Pustula lactucae sp. nov. Scanning electron microscope illustrations are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palynomorphological characteristics of 5 species belonging to Hedera of the Araliaceae family were studied in detail. These plant species were collected from various phytogeographical regions of Iran and Hungary. The palynological investigation was accomplished using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Pollen grains of the species are reticulate, prolate, sub-prolate, tricolporate, isopolar, radially symmetrical, and monad. The largest pollen grain was in the Hedera colchica species (72.24±1.6 µm) and the smallest pollen grain was in Hedera helix (28.63±2.1 µm). The research carried out by the TEM showed that the species were different in terms of exine thickness, tectum thickness, foot layer thickness, the diameter and length of the Columella, the thickness and shape of the Caput, the tectum to foot layer)T/F(ratio, the absence or presence of the Endexine and the thickness of the Intine layers. The main purpose of this study was the importance of the relationship between pollen grain size and the number of chromosomes and ploidy level in Hedera species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characteristic features of seed and testa cells in 13 species of Allium, representing its five recognized sections, Compactoprason, Megaloprason, Procerallium, Decipientia and Pseudoprason were studied using both stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope. The identified characters, such as seed shape, alignment and shape of testa cells, features of outer cell walls, verruca type, density of verrucae and granules, seed size as well as cell wall undulations were evaluated statistically. The our findings indicated the significance level of P = 0.01 for examined characters using the Kruskal-Wallis and ANOVA analyses. Two principal components of factor analysis revealed the following traits to be most important in distinguishing taxa at various taxonomic ranks within the complex (sections, subsections and species), based on 50.94% of total variance and a correlation coefficient of 0.93: shape and sculpturing of periclinal walls, undulation details of anticlinal walls, verruca type, testa cell alignment, and size of seed and testa cells. The general pattern of testa shared by all taxa of studied complex included convex periclinal walls with verrucate surface and undulated anticlinal walls from S- to U-like, but some taxa differed from each other in the details of testa sculpturing. Exceptionally, the monotypic section, Decipientia revealed adifferent pattern, showing smooth seed surface composed of polygonal testa cells with tightarrangement, flat periclinal surfacebearingsulcate verrucae, and straight anticlinal walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocarp morphology of 4 species of Iranian Celtis was examined using light and scanning electron microscopes. Macro- and micro-morphological characters were included endocarp shape, color, size, surrounding rim, ornamentation and SEM structure of the outer layer of the endocarp. Endocarp morphology of the examined specimens exhibit variation in all characters. Endocarp shape varies from globular to ovoid-acuminate. Endocarp size ranges between (5.5x5x45 mm) and (8x6x5.5 mm). Endocarp color varies from milky to russet. The results of SEM investigation of the outer endocarp show holes with 5-25 μ diameters. Iranian Celtis Can be distinguished by the means of endocarp morphology but other characters are also needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]