Investigation of Palinological Features of Taxa Belonging to the Genus Cuscuta Distributed in Turkey

In this study the species belonging to Cuscuta L. genus showing the distribution of agricultural and non-agricultural lands in Turkey was examined palynological perspective. This study was carried out between the years 2013-2015. The pollen morphology of 15 taxa of Cuscuta, including C. campestris Yunck., C. hyalina Roth., C. lupuliformis Krock., C. monogyna Vahl subsp. monogyna, C. monogyna Vahl subsp. esqumata (Englm.) Plitm., C. kotschyana Boiss. subsp. caudata Bornm & Schwarz, C. babylonica Aucher ex Choisy var. babylonica, C. babylonica Aucher ex Choisy var. elegans (Boiss. & Bal.) Englm., C. europaea L., C. kurdica Engelm., C. epithymum L., C. brevistyla A. Braun ex A. Rich., C. planiflora Ten., C. approximata Bab. var. approximata, and C. approximata Bab. var. macranthera (Boiss.) Feinbr. & Greuter was investigated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). C. campestris and C. brevistyla species were found 3 (-4) zonocolpate, C. planiflora 3 (-6) zonocolpate. Pollen structure of taxa belonging to Cuscuta L. genus were determined prolate, subprolate, perprolate and prolate-spheroidal. The apertures of the pollens of these taxa were found scabrate, scabrate-perforate, oscabrate-perforate, reticulate and ekinate-reticulate. It was concluded that the pollen characteristics are convenient and a reliable method in identifying species. (C) 2017 Friends Science Publishers