Taxonomic significance of spermoderm pattern in Cucurbitaceae

Abstract

Studies on spermoderm using scanning electron microscope (SEM) were undertaken in 12 taxa under 11 genera of the family Cucurbitaceae sampled from India, China and Korea. The spermoderm pattern in the studied taxa varies from rugulate, reticulate to colliculate type. The spermoderm shows rugulate type in Benincasa hispida and Sicyos angulatus; reticulate type in Citrullus colocynthis, Cucumis melo var. agrestis, Diplocyclos palmatus, Hemsleya longivillosa, Luffa echinata, Momordica charantia, M. cymbalaria, Schizopepon bryoniifolius, and Trichosanthes cucumerina; and colliculate type in Gynostemma laxiflorum. The present study clearly reveals that the testa features greatly varies across the genera which can be used as micromorphological markers for identification as well as character states for deducing relationship of the taxa within the family.