Received: August 7, 2010 Accepted: November 17, 2010
Abstract
An intensive study of the embryology of Gymnospermium microrrhynchum was conducted to provide information regarding a discussion of the phylogenetic relationships of the genus, which is yet unstudied. Our results indicated that Gymnospermium is similar to other genera of Berberidaceae in terms of its embryological features. Nevertheless, newly reported and unique features are the well-developed endothelium and the undifferentiated seed coat type. Until the study of Gymnospermium, it may have been considered to be closer to Caulophyllum and Leontice in the tribe Leonticeae. These three genera share many morphological features as well as molecular similarities, by which they are kept in the same tribe, Leonticeae. However, very little detailed embryological data regarding these genera have been published thus far. Gymnospermium was characterized according to the basic type of anther wall formation as well as its glandular tapetum, successive cytokinesis in the microspore mother cell, two-celled mature pollen grains, anatropous and crassinucellate ovules with a nucellar cap, well-developed endothelium, its Polygonum type of embryo sac formation, its nuclear type of endosperm formation, and its undifferentiated seed coat type. In comparison with Nandina, there are many differences, such as the dehiscence of the anther, the cytokinesis in the microspore mother cells, the shape of the megaspore dyad, and the seed characteristics. Although we had no available detailed embryological information regarding Caulophyllum and Leontice, which are genera that are more closely related to Gymnospermium, we could deduce from the phylogenetic relationship that Gymnospermium, Caulophyllum, and Leontice are more closely related to each other than other genera of Berberidaceae on the basis of the seed characteristics.
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