Variations and abnormalities of stamen morphologies in cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) cultivars

Abstract

Stamen morphologies of six cornelian cherry cultivars (Degirmendere, Erkenci Degirmendere, Iri Bardak, Yuvarlak Bardak, Uzun Memeli, and Bugur) (Cornus mas L.) were evaluated using scanning electron, light and stereo microscopes. Flowers of cornelian cherry cultivars generally had four stamens, but a few of them had three or five stamens. Abnormal and normal stamens were found together in the cultivars examined. Percentages of abnormal stamens among the cultivars ranged from 12% to 22%. Various types of stamen abnormalities were identified in the cultivars such as variations in filament length, abnormalities in anther structure, fusion of stamen to other floral organs. Pollen grain numbers per anther varied between 1,380 and 4,240 among the cultivars. Abnormal anther surface morphology in the cultivars consisted of uneven and swollen epidermal cells. Anther dimensions varied between 624.00 and 1,001.25 mu m in length and 460.50 and 745.50 mu m in width. Anthers of all the cultivars had subprolate and prolate type of shapes.