Light and scanning electron microscopy observations on morphological diversity of Rosaceae stigma and its taxonomic significance

The stigma morphology can provide a reference for exploring plant systematics and pollination biology. In this study, we observed the stigma morphological characteristics of Rosaceae in Beijing urban area in detail using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The stigma of Rosaceae is entire or bilobed and mostly baculate, crateriform, cristate, discoid, or flattened. The stigma surface may have irregular, strongly raised ridges; or flat without papillae; or composed of densely or loosely arranged papillary cells. Surface ornamentation includes fossulate, psilate, psilate-striate, rugulate, scabrate, striate, and striate-rugulate. There are similarities in stigma morphology among genera and differences in stigma morphology among species within genera. The stigma shape supports the view of molecular systematic classification, that is, the former subfamilies Maloideae, Prunoideae, and Spiraeoideae are grouped into subfamily Amygdaloideae.

Automated summary

The morphology of stigma in Rosaceae plants was studied in detail using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The research revealed both similarities among genera and differences among species within genera, which has implications for plant systematics and pollination biology.