Micromorphological structure of seeds in some taxa of Vicia L. (Fabaceae) occurring in Azerbaijan | Micromorphological structure of seeds in Vicia

For the first time, micromorphology of seed samples and structure of seed surface of the following 17 species and subspecies of the wild vetch (Vicia L.) occurring in the flora of Azerbaijan were studied: V. bithynica (L.) L., V. sativa subsp. cordata Wulf ex Hoppe, V. elegans Guss., V. hirsuta (L.) S. F. Gray, V. hybrida L., V. lutea L., V. monantha Retz. (V. cinerea M. Bieb.), V. narbonensis L. (V. johannis Tamamsch.), V. pannonica Crantz, V. peregrina L., V. sativa L. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (V. angustifolia Reichard), V. sativa L. subsp. sativa, V. tetrasperma (L.) Schreb., V. tenuifolia Roth subsp. variabilis (Freyn et Sint. ex Freyn) Dinsm., V. villosa Roth subsp. varia (Host) Corb. (V. dasycarpa auct.), V. villosa Roth subsp. villosa, and V. loiseleurii (M. Bieb.) H. Lindb. (V. meyeri Boiss.). Seed samples were collected in 2015-2017 on 11 routes from different region of Azerbaijan (Zaqatala, Ordubad, Khizi, Shamakhi, Masalli, Qabala, Lerik, and Tovuz). Collected taxa belong to two subgenera (subg. Vicia, subg. Vicilla) and 8 sections (Vicia, Hypechusa, Peregrinae, Faba, Narbonensis, Cracca, Lenticula, and Ervum). In the samples, the surface structures, shape, density or waxy layer of papillae (buds with suction surface) were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphological characters, including general shape, color and size of seeds, were studied under a stereomicroscope. The main form of the seed’s surface of the vetch patterns was papilla. However, the size of the ribs in the papillas and the density of papillas were different in different taxa. Four morphological characters of seed (the relative size and shape of the hilum, relative location of the micropile (seed entrance) relative to the hilum and the position of the hilum on the surface of the seed) have been stable. It has been established that the microscopic examination of the seed coat has important taxonomic significance and can be used to clarify the status of subgenera and sections. However, other characteristics of seeds (shape, color, seed size, etc.) can be also used in identification of the taxa.