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Orchid Seed Ultrastructure: Ecological and Taxonomic Implications with Reference to Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae)

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Orchid Biology: Recent Trends & Challenges

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Abstract

Ultrastructure of orchid seed belonging to subfamily Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae) has been discussed. Orchid seeds are tiny and microscopic and produced lakhs in a single pod. In Cycnoches ventricosum it contains four million seeds. Since orchid seeds are non-endospermic, very few seeds germinate successfully and give rise to mature plant. The present paper deals with quantitative data related to the length and width of seed and embryo, percentage of airspace and number of testa cells. It is evident from the present study that Cymbidium spp. showed higher values of seed volume/embryo volume compared to the vandoid genera whereby higher percentage of airspace had been recorded in cymbidiums. Hence Cymbidium deeds are more buoyant and widely distributed throughout Indo-Malayan region. Based on seed morphometry, Pholidota is closely allied to Coelogyne. Similarly Oberonia and Malaxis show close affinity with Vanda.

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Acknowledgements

JR acknowledges the University Grants Commission for providing fellowship in the form of Rajiv Ghandi National Fellowship; also thanks to Dr. M.U, Sharief, Orchid Specialist, National Orchidarium and Experimental Garden, Yercaud (Tamil Nadu), India, for identification of orchids and to Dr. Sakunthala Devi, Scientist, IICT, Hyderabad, for hel** in Scanning Electron Microscope Photograph Facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. V.S.R. Government Degree College, Movva, Andhra Pradesh, India

    J. Ramudu

  2. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India

    S. M. Khasim

  3. K.B.N. College (Autonomous), Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

    G. Ramesh

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  1. J. Ramudu
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Shaik Mahammad Khasim

  2. Former Director, Orchid Research and Development Center, State Forest Research Institute, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India

    Sadanand Nagesh Hegde

  3. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Cryobiology, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico

    María Teresa González-Arnao

  4. Department of Plant Science Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Kanchit Thammasiri

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Ramudu, J., Khasim, S.M., Ramesh, G. (2020). Orchid Seed Ultrastructure: Ecological and Taxonomic Implications with Reference to Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae). In: Khasim, S., Hegde, S., González-Arnao, M., Thammasiri, K. (eds) Orchid Biology: Recent Trends & Challenges . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9456-1_14

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