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ISTA Purity Seminar15. June 2009 Zürich
Identification of seeds to genus and species level
by
Norbert Leist and Andrea JonitzProf. Dr. Norbert LeistBrahmsstr.2576669 Bad Schö[email protected]
Dr. Andrea JonitzLTZ AugustenbergNeßlerstr.2376227 [email protected]
From flower to seed
Pulsatilla vernalis
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From flower to seed
Pulsatilla
Can we find botanical characters which allow a systematic searchleading to the families first, than to the genera and at least to the species?
Mostly you can find the following structures, more or less well visible:Testa developed from the integument. The hole between the integument remains as micropyle, in every seed this is the point where the radicle emerges. The funiculus growth a shorter or larger part together with the integument, this part is the raphe. The breaking point of the funiculus at ripeness is the hilum. The region where the funiculus enters the integument for nutritition of the embryo is the chalaza.
Hilum
--Integument
Cardiospermum halicacabum
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Definition of seed• A seed is a matured ovule that contains an embryo and often nutritive tissue (endosperm perisperm)(endosperm, perisperm) Judd et al. Plant Systematics
• Achene: Asteraceae (Carex, Ranunculus, Rosa, Rumex)
• Caryopsis: Poaceae
• Drupe: Celtis, Cocos, Prunus
• Nut: Castanea, Corylus, Fagus, Quercus
• Samara: Ailanthus, Betula, Fraxinus, Liriodendron, Ulmus
S hi A A i D E di E h bi L i M l
Carya ovata
• Schizocarp: Acer, Apium, Daucus, Erodium, Euphorbia, Lamium, Malva
• Utricle: Amaranthus, Chenopodium
• Seed units are commonly found dispersal units ISTA Rules 2009
Abrus precatorius
Caryopsis SchizocarpAlopecurus gerardii
Euphorbia verrucosa
Echinochloa crus-galli
Aethusa cynapium
Bromus mollis
Abelmoschus esculentus
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Achaene
Bidens pilosa
Leontodon hispidusp
Taraxacum officinale
p
Rumex crispusofficinale crispus
Seed Unit
Tragopogon or Taraxacum ?
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Seed charactersColor : black, brown, yellowish, white, different colored, shiny, dull
Shape, size : round, edged, flat, triangular, fourthsized, barrelshaped
Testa surface: smooth, ribbed, striped, edged, winged, furrowed, wrinkled, dimplelike, reticular, humplike, spiny, dotted, flaking, finehirsute, woolly hirsute, shaggy
Appendages : arillus, elaiosom, caruncula, crista, strophiolum, awn, arista, glumes, beak, wing, pappus
Hilum : tiny, spotshaped, with other color
Raphe : Strophiolum
Micropyle : Caruncula
Types of seed units as used in the seed key of Brouwer Stählin
1. Seed unit edged or with border, spiny point (35 families)
2. Seed unit with caruncula, often with clear raphe (2 families)
3. Seed unit winged (9 families)
4. Seed unit with hairs, partly as crown, tuft or scale (6 families)
5. Seed unit bottleshaped (2 families)
6. Seed unit stickshaped, at least 4 times as long as wide (4 families)
7. Seed unit with shiny testa or special structures of surface (6 families)
8. Seed unit enrolled, therefore kidney – or hornshaped (3 families)
9. Seed unit thin and flat, partly bended and/or with small wing ring (4 families)
10. Seed unit ball-to oval rounded, hilum visible (2 families)
11. Seed unit flat and smooth, often like amphora (1 family)
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AmranthaceaeAsclepiadaceaeBrassicaceae
ApiaceaeAsteraceaeCampanulaceae
AristolochiaceaeBoraginaceaeCaryophyllaceae
1. Seed unit edged or with border, point spine (35 families)
BrassicaceaeChenopodiaceaeCucurbitaceaeEuphorbiaceaeGeraniaceaeLiliaceaePapaveraceaePoaceae
CampanulaceaeConvolvulaceaeCyperaceaeFabaceaeIridaceaeMalvaceaePlantaginaceaePolygonaceae
CaryophyllaceaeCoriariaceaeDipsacaceaeFumariaceaeLamiaceaeOnagraceaePlumbaginaceaePrimulaceaePoaceae
RosaceaeSantalaceaeTropaeolaceae
PolygonaceaeRubiaceaeScrophulariaceaeValerianaceae
PrimulaceaeRutaceaeSolanaceaeZygophyllaceae
2. Seed unit with caruncula, often with clear rapheEuphorbiaceae Polygalaceae
Violaceae Chelidonium
3. Seed unit wingedAsclepiadaceae Asteraceae Brassicaceae
Caryophyllaceae Chenopodiaceae Cyperaceae
Liliaceae Gentianaceae Iridaceae
4. Seed unit enrolled, therefore kidney – or hornshapedAsteraceae Caryophyllaceae
Chenopodiaceae Fabaceae
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How stable are these seed characteristics?
Depending on the type of reproduction:
Apogamie =Apomixis, parthenogenesis without pollinationAlchemilla, Amelanchier, Hieracium, Poa, Rubus, Sorbus, Taraxacum , , , , , ,(2000 microspecies)Autogamie – selfpollination, cleistogamyViolaHeterogamie - self incompatible, pollination by other plant of the same speciesPrimula, AstragalusPolyploidie - multiplication of the chromosome numberBiscutellaBiscutellaHybridisation – pollination between speciesAquilegia, Avena, Betula, Carex, Epilobium, Paeonia, Poa, Rumex, Salix(worldwide 70.000 naturally occurring interspecific plant hybrids are estimated)
How stable are these seed characteristics?
These characteristics are genetically controlled, but some factors
may lead to abnormal or untypical seeds:
nutritition of the plant
insect damage of the seed unit
fungi infection
environmental stress conditions
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Equipment for seed identification
• Pincette
• Scalpel
• Small boxes
• Tubes, adhesive papel, pencil
• Magnifying lens
Tools for seed identification• Binocular 10‐60 fold
• MicroscopeLi ht i– Light microscope
– Electron microscope
– Special types like Keyence
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The KEYENCE‐Microscope (VHX‐500) Key of Science
Irreplaceable
Training ExperiencePatience
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If Seed identification with morphological characters is not successful ?
Check for alternative methods:
• Anatomy of the seed (type of endosperm)
• Seedling (Rumex)
• Chemical reactions (phenol, sulphuric acid..)
– Lolium, Poa, Phleum, Cuscuta, Orobanche, Vicia, , , , ,
– Ultraviolet radiation
• Seedproteins, electrophoresis
Anatomy of seed units to be observed by a transverse cut
Characteristics :With or without endosperm, perisperm,( endosperm oily (ol), with starch (st), fleshy (fl)); embryos place on the side, inner part; embryo straight or bended
Perisperm Endosperm large Endosperm small None or nearly no endosperm
Amaranthaceae Apiaceae Asclepiadaceae AsteraceaeAmaranthaceaeCaryophyllaceaeChenopodiaceaePlantaginaceae
ApiaceaeAristolochiaceae (fl)EuphorbiaceaePoaceae (st)Papaveraceae (oil)Plumbaginaceae (st)Polygonaceae (st)Primulaceae (fl)
AsclepiadaceaeBoraginaceaeCampanulaceae (fl)DipsacaceaeFabaceaeLamiaceaeRosaceaeRutaceae
AsteraceaeBrassicaceaeCucurbitaceaeFabaceaeGeraniaceaeLamiaceaeOnagraceaeTropaeolaceaePrimulaceae (fl)
RubiaceaeScrophulariaceae (fl)Solanaceae (fl)ConvolvulaceaeIridaceaeLiliaceae
RutaceaeSantalaceae
TropaeolaceaeValerianaceaePolygalaceae
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If Seed identification with morphological characters is not successful ?
Check for alternative methods:
• Anatomy of the seed (type of endosperm)
• Seedling (Rumex)
• Chemical reactions (phenol, sulphuric acid..)
– Lolium, Poa, Phleum, Cuscuta, Orobanche, Vicia, , , , ,
– Ultraviolet radiation
• Seedproteins, electrophoresis
Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
643 Genera, 18.000 Species
Caesalpinioideae 153 Genera 2 175 SpeciesCaesalpinioideae 153 Genera, 2.175 Species
Mimosoideae 64 Genera, 2.950 Species
Papilionoideae 426 Genera, 12.150 Species
Lathyrus 160Lathyrus 160
Vicia 140
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Fabaceae:
well expressed hilum, micropyle, raphne, chalaza
Seeds showing one typical characteristic for one certain family only
Medicago, Sophora, Melilotus, Robinia, Vicia .....
Medicago trunculata Melilotus albaSophora japonica
Seed characteristics
Phaseolus vulgaris; Micropyle, Hilum, Testa structure
Micropyle
Hilum
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Seedshape: a) globular
b) ovoid
c) edged
d) rhomboid
e) hatchlike
f) cylindrical
) h d
.
g) pearshaped
Testa surface
Smoothy shining, smoothy dull, rough, velvet, like hoarfrost, warty structures, pories structures, labyrinth structures.
These characters can be observed with magnification
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Testa colour and pattern
Variation from white to light brown, dark to black, greenish and from uniform colour to different pattern
This pattern can be named as: marked - small area spotThis pattern can be named as: marked small area spot, speckle, reptile pattern, marble pattern.
The micropyle can be well expressed to nearly not visible.
The hilum is more informative with its size, shape, colour, structure and the distance to the micropyle.
The hilum can be:The hilum can be:
round-oval, less than 2 x as long as wide(eg. Lathyrus gorgoni Parl.)
elongated-oval, at least 2 x, but not more than 5 x as long as wide(eg. Vicia dumetorum L.);
linear, more than 5 x as long as wide (eg. Lathyrus articulatus L.)
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Furthermore, the hilum itself can show the same width in its whole length, it can narrow at one or both ends and became also lanceolate at one or both ends.
Once more the are a of the hilum can differ in colour. The middle part (M) can be white-light, sometimes yellowish, with the border region (R) darkened, in some species a very light line separates the hilum lengthwise (L).
M
R
L
1. Lathyrus amphicarpos L.2. Lathyrus angulatus L.3. Lathyrus annuus L.4. Lathyrus aphaca L.
Genus Lathyrus19. Lathyrus maritimus (L.) Bigelow20. Lathyrus montanus Bernh.21. Lathyrus neurolobus Boiss. Et Heldr. in Boiss.22. Lathyrus nissolia L.23. Lathyrus niger (L.) Bernh.24. Lathyrus ochrus (L.) DC.
5. Lathyrus articulatus L.6. Lathyrus aureus (Steven) Brandza7. Lathyrus bauhinii Genty8. Lathyrus cicera L.9. Lathyrus clymenum L.10. Lathyrus davidii Hance11. Lathyrus digitatus (Bieb.) Fiori12 Lathyrus gorgoni Parl
y ( )25. Lathyrus odoratus L.26. Lathyrus Pannonicus (Jacq.) Garcke
ssp. varius
27. Lathyrus pisiformis L.28. Lathyrus pratensis L.29. Lathyrus roseus Steven30. Lathyrus rotundifolius Willd.31 Lathyrus sativus L12. Lathyrus gorgoni, Parl.
13. Lathyrus heterophyllos L.14. Lathyrus hierosolymitanus Boiss.15. Lathyrus hirsutus L.16. Lathyrus inconspicuus L.17. Lathyrus latifolius L.18. Lathyrus laxiflorus (Desf.) O. Kuntze
31. Lathyrus sativus L.32. Lathyrus sphaericus Retz.33. Lathyrus sylvestris L.34. Lathyrus tingitanus L.35. Lathyrus tuberosus36. Lathyrus venetus (Miller) Wohlf. in Koch37. Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh.
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Seed small, not more than 2 mm I
Seed larger > 2 mm II
I
Example for a key to determine seed of Vicia and Lathyrus species
I1 Whole testa with clear wart structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
1´ Testa with structures like pores or labyrinnth,in no case warts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
2 seeds globular, egg shaped-oval or cylindrical;hilum more than 0,5 mm long, round-oval measuring 1/8 to 1/9 of seed perimeter; chalaza is near by the hilum less than 0,5 mm formed as a small bulge; testa surface with some single warts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L. nissolia L.
2´ seed mostly edged-hatchet like, hilum very small, not more than 0,5 mm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Lathyrus
L. ochrus L. pannonicus L. pratensis L. articulatus
L. tingitanus L. angulatus L. nissolia L. rotundifolius ssp. rotundifolius ssp. miniatus
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Genus Vicia
V. narbonnensis V. ochroleuca V. peregrina
V. tenuissima V. pubescens V. sepium
V. villosa V. lathyroides V. sativa V. grandiflora
Vicia cracca Vicia articulata
Vicia sativa Vicia monantha
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Vicia tetrasperma Lathyrus tuberosus
Vicia villosa Vicia hirsuta Vicia angustifolia Vicia sativa
Partzsch et al.
Scrophulariaceae
268 Genera, 5.100 Species
Veronica 180 (since 2003 the genus belongs to the Plantaginaceae)Veronica 180 (since 2003 the genus belongs to the Plantaginaceae)
Garden plants
Veronica paniculata, longifolia, spicata, aphylla…..
Weeds
Veronica hederifolia, cymbalaria, persica, filiformis, opaca, agrestis, polita, triphyllos, dillenii, verna, peregrina, arvensis….
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Scrophulariaceae
Veronica teucrium Veronica hederifolia
Veronica agrestis Veronica arvensis
Scrophulariaceae
Veronica filiformis Veronica persica Veronica triphyllos
Veronica polita Veronica agrestis Veronica praecox Veronica hederifoliaPartzsch et al. Acker- und Gartenunkräuter
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Chenopodiaceae
103 Genera, 1.300 Species
Chenopodium 100Chenopodium 100
Atriplex 300
Chenopodium albumChenopodiaceae
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Chenopodium polyspermum
Chenopodiaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Atriplex patula Chenopodium hybridum Ch. album
Chenopodium polyspermum Ch. ficifolium Ch. glaucum Portulaca oleracea
Partzsch et al. Acker- und Gartenunkräuter
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shape
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shape
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Silene cretica Silene dichotoma
Silene dioica Silene latifolia
Silene noctiflora
There ist still much effort needed go come from
seed images to seed tables
which can be used for comparison of unknown seeds
and not only of weed seeds.
Hypochaeris radicata
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Thank you very much for your attention !
