SEM of seed coat surface and SDS-PAGE of seed protein criteria in certain taxa of the Primulaceae

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Biological Sciences and Geology Department, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Roxy (Heliopolis), P.C.11341, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

SEM of seed coat surface and SDS-PAGE of seed protein criteria were used to re-assess the taxonomic
relationships between 12 species belonging to three genera of Primulaceae, viz. Cyclamen L. (one species),
Lysimachia L. (six species) and Primula L. (five species). The data obtained, in addition to other characters
available in the literature, were analyzed by the NTSYS-pc. Program package using the UPGMA clustering
method. A considerable divergence was evident between Cyclamen and each of Lysimachia and Primula. A
close relationship was recorded between each of Lysimachia lichiangensis Thunb. & L. verticillata Bieb; L.
ephemerum (Gray) Hbd.& L. punctata L.; Primula burmanica Fern.& P. japonica Gray; Primula elatior (L.)
Hill & P. veris L. The variations in SDS-PAGE of seed protein profiles were compatible to some extent with the
morphological variations exhibited in these taxa. The validity of using the seed coat microsculpture and seed
protein electrophoretic criteria as taxonomic evidence in the Primulaceae was referred to.

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