This document discusses palynology and serotaxonomy. It defines palynology as the study of palynomorphs such as pollen, spores, and cysts found in palynological preparations. Key aspects of palynology covered include pollen nucleus number and units, pollen aperture types, and the importance of palynological characters in solving taxonomic problems. Serotaxonomy is defined as the application of serology, or the study of antigen-antibody reactions, to plant taxonomy. It determines the degree of similarity between taxa by comparing their reactions to antigens and antibodies. Serotaxonomy has helped solve several taxonomic problems and establish relationships between plant groups.

1. Presentation prepared by
ANGKITA BHATTACHARYYA
Class: M.Sc 4th sem
Angiosperm Taxonomy

2.  1.Introduction- Palyonology & palaeopalynology
 Pollen Nucleus No. & Units
 Pollen apeture
 Pollen wall structure
 Role of Palynological characters in solving
Taxonomic Problems
 Imortance of Palynology
➢ Benefits of study & conclusion
➢ 2.Serotaxonomy

3.  Palynology is the science of palynomorphs, a general term for all
entities found in palynological preparation (eg. Pollen , spores,
cysts, diatoms). A dominating object of the palynomorph spectrum
is the pollen grain. The palynology was coined by Hyde and wiliams
in 1945.Palynology is derived from the Greek word “Palyenin” means
to scatter or to sprinkle as many pollen grains or spore are easily
disapersed or carried away.
 Although this study has been very old, gone through prehistoric
times. With the invention of compound microscope, the spore &
pollen have been identified as morphological entity. Later on with
the invention of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) have given new dimesion to
the field of palynology.
 Paleopalynology is the one the disciplines of palynology and
concerned with the study of fossil pollen grains and spores.

4.  Pollen Nucleus No.
 a)Binucleate. Eg-Rosaceae
 B) Trinucleate.eg-Caryophyllaceae
 Pollen units
 a)Monad(single pollen unit) eg- Hibiscus
trionum (Malvaceae).
 B) Dyad ,eg- Ascarina phillippinensis.
 C) Tetrad( terahedral-terad) Ericaceae(Mint family)
 Tetragonal- terad – Philydraceae, Fabaceae(Mimosa
udica) .

5.  Polyad (Parkia speciosa) fabaceae
 Pollenium (Apocynanceae & orchidaceae)

7.  Specially delimited region or opening in a
pollengrain wall, colpus(elongated) or pores
(rounded)
 Monocolpate (Magnoliaceae, Asteraceae,
Poaceae)
 Tricolplate (Acanthaceae)
 Triporate (Cucurbitaceae)
 Polyporate( Amaranthaceae,Convolvulaceae)

10.  Palynological characters have been used in solving
several taxonomic problems ,including the
respositioning of several disputed taxa, and
interpretation of problems relating to the origin
and evolution of different groups (Nair,1980).
Cronquist (1981) and several other workers have
made the exclusive use of pollen characters in
providing classification of angiosperms.
Erdtman(1963) used the pollen characters in
discussing and solving the taxonomic problems of
105 families.

11.  1.Sharma (1987) investigated the pollen morphology of 16
Indian species of Cyperus and prepared a key to differentiate
all of them on the the basis of pollen characters.
 2.A massive exine and thin intine is present in angiosperm
pollens.But in certain taxa among monocots such as
Musaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Cannaceae, Zingiberaceae , the
exine is highly reduced and intine is well developed.
 3.Pollen grains are associated with tetrads in several families
of Dicots (Annonaceae, Winteraceae,Mimisaceae) & monocots
(Cyperaceae nd Juncaceae). In Ascleiadaceae and orchidaceae
they from pollinia.

12.  1.Aeropalynology: Counts pollen in air for agriculture, horticulture and for
advisements to inhalant allergy and asthma sufferers.
 2.Paleopalynology: The sporopollenin pollen outer wall is extremely
durabale and found in sediments deposited millions of years ago. By
identifying pollen taxa, inferences about historical vegetation and climates
can be made.
 3.Melissopalynology: The study of honey-bee pollen to determine the
origin of honey.
 4.Forensic palynology:Pollen identification in criminal forensics
determines where an object has been geographically. Information about a
victims last meal and where it was eaten can be obtained.

13.  1.To trace the history of vegetation.
 2.To study plant assemblage at a specific stratigraphic horizon.
 3.To study climatic change.
 4.To study extinct genera.
 5.To study evolution of plants and establish affinity.
 6.To study paleoecology.
 7.To define ancient shoreline.
 Conclusions: The field of palynology has been vital in understanding how
landscapes change over time, wetlands dry up into fields, and ho fields turn
into woodlands and can accurately analyze samples from any geographical
area or time period.
 Refences:http://www.biologydiscussion.com/palynogy/notes-on-
palaeopalynogy-palynology/6957
 Plant taxonomy(Akhil baruah)

14. ◦ In the term Serotaxonomical , there are two words
◦ Sero- comes from the word serology
◦ taxonomical-comes from taxonomy
◦ Serotaxonomy developed and became popular in Germany.
◦ This classification is for very similar plants by differences in the
proteins they contain.
◦ Serotaxonomy is the application of serology.
◦ The study of antigen-antibody is called serology.
◦ Antigen are the foreign substances stimulating antibody formulation.
◦ Antibody :A specific protein molecule produced by plasma cell in the
immune system in response to antigen. The antibodies combine
chemically with specific antigen and this combination elevates an
immune response.

15.  Serotaxonomy expresses similarities and dissimilarities among different
taxa and this data are helpful in taxonomy. It determines the degree of
similarities between spices, genera, families, etc. by compaing the reaction
of antigen from various plant taxa with antibodies developed against the
antigen.
 Process of Serotaxonmy
▪ The protein extract of the plant origin i.e the antigen is extracted.
▪ The antigen is injected into the blood stream of an experimental animal to
form antibodies.
▪ The experimental animal produces specific antibody in response to the
antigen.
▪ The serum with antibodies is called antiserum. Antiserum is made to react
in vitro with antigenic protein as proteins of other taxa , whose affinities
are to be determined.

16.  Suppose we are to ascertain the closeness of a taxon T with taxa X, Y, and
z . The proteins extracted from T are injected into a rabbit , in which the
antibodies are produced. The antibodies are then extracted from the blood
of the rabbit in the form of antiserum. When the antiserum is allowed to
react with the original protein extract from T, a total coagulation takes
place. When this antiserum is allowed to react with the protein extracts
from the taxa X, Y, nd Z, the degree of coagulation varies. This degree of
coagulation is related directly to the closeness between the taxa being
compared.
 Imortance of serology in Serotaxonomy
 It helps in comparing non- morphological characteristics, the knowledge
of which is useful in taxonmy.
 Single proteins from different plant taxa are also compared by serology
techniques.

17.  Nuttal(1901) was the first serotaxonomist to compare the
immunochemical specificity of serum proteins for systematic purposes.
Kowarski(1901) distinguished seed proteins of several species
serologically and verified the species specificity of wheat , rye, oat and pea
proteins. Dunbar (1910) showed that proteins from pollen, seeds and leaves
of rice were serologically distict.
 Role of Serological data in solving Taxonomic problems/
systematic value of Serotaxonomy
 1. A/c to Fairbrothers (1983), serological data are useful in the classification
of orders & the assignment of families like Apiales, Capparales,
Caryophyllales , Mangoliale , Papaverales , Rannnunculales, Rubiales.
 2.Hawkes and Tucker (1968) observed a strong serological relationship
amongst the members of the family Solanaceae like Solanum, Nicotiana
,Datura etc.
 3.On the basis of serological investigation, Johnson and Firebrothers (1965)
suggested that the Mangolia and Michelia show closest affinity within
Magnoliaceae.

18.  Kolz (1971) applied the seological techniques in the classification of
Fabaceae.
 Hawkes and Lester (1968) showed a relationship among the tuber-baering
taxa of Solanaceae. Hydratis has more close serological similarity to the
Ranuculaceae than the Berberidaceae.
 Some Serological methods

21.  Refferences
 http://www,biologydiscussion.com/plant-tax0nomy/serotaxonomy-
defination-history-and-roles plant-taxonomy30466
 PLANT TAXONOMY(Akhil baruah) and others research paper.