Pollen morphology of the three pomoid genera x Malosorbus Browicz, Mespilus L., and Eriolobus (Ser.) Roemer (Rosaceae)

Abstract

X Malosorbus Browicz is a hybrid genus ofMalus Mill, and Sorbus L. The genera Mespilus L. and Eriolobus (Ser.) Roemer are closely related to this hybrid genus. Mains sylvestris Mill, and Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz are the parent species of X Malosorbus florentina (Zucc.) Browicz. Pollen morphology of the parent species, the hybrid species, Mespilus germanica L. and Eriolobus trilobatus (Poiret) Roemer has been studied under both light and scanning electron microscopes. Morphological features of the pollen grains have been measured and photographed. The palynological data have been evaluated with respect to the taxonomic viewpoint.