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Leaf epidermis characters of Iranian Pyrus L. (Rosaceae) and their taxonomic implications

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Abstract

Pyrus L. is a taxonomically difficult genus mainly because of interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. A majority of the wild species of Pyrus occurs in Iran, making this region very important for any study of the systematics of the genus. In this investigation, seven quantitative and seven qualitative characters of leaf epidermis, particularly epidermal cells shape, anticlinal walls patterns, type and size of stomata, and cuticular ornamentation of 22 taxa of Pyrus plus Malus orientalis are studied for assessment of their taxonomical value at different levels. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy were used for evaluation of epidermis features of these taxa. Some characters such as shape and anticlinal wall pattern of epidermal cells, presence of adaxial stomata, pattern of cuticular ornamentation and epicuticular wax types are useful in separation of some Pyrus taxa. Moreover, Malus orientalis is recognized easily from all Pyrus species via the density of stomata. According to ANOVA analysis, all quantitative variables show high level of between-group differentiation. Also, based on the hierarchical clustering results gained by multiple correspondence analysis and factor analysis of mixed data analyses of the current study, micromorphological characters of epidermal cells reflect the ecological conditions of pear taxa, so most of the mesophyte and xerophyte taxa can be separated from each other in accordance with epidermal cells characters, specially the anticlinal wall pattern. Totally, the application of some other biological markers, particularly suitable molecular data are needed to present well-resolved relationships among these taxa.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ms. Avakh for assistance of preparation of slides. This work has been supported by the Center of International Scientific Studies and Collaboration (CISSC) and the Hubert Curien Partnership (HCP) Gundishapur by the French Embassy in Tehran and the Iran National Science Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biology and Center of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, College of Science, University of Tehran, PO Box 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran

    Asghar Zamani & Farideh Attar

  2. INP, UPS, EcoLab (Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), Université de Toulouse, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France

    Laure Civeyrel

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  1. Asghar Zamani
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  3. Laure Civeyrel
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Correspondence to Farideh Attar.

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Zamani, A., Attar, F. & Civeyrel, L. Leaf epidermis characters of Iranian Pyrus L. (Rosaceae) and their taxonomic implications. Genet Resour Crop Evol 64, 159–176 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-015-0341-4

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