POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF SORGHUM MOENCH - SECTIONS EU-SORGHUM AND PARA-SORGHUM

Pollen morphological studies have been carried out by SEM on 23 specie s of Sorghum (Gramineae) in order to resolve the exine surface pattern s in sections Eu-sorghum (subsection Arundinacea-series Spontanea and Sativa and subsection Halepensia), and Para-sorghum. Basically, two ex ine ornamentation types have been observed viz. granular and insular. In section Eu-sorghum, series Spontanea and Sativa (of subsection Arun diancea) are heterogeneous having both types of exine pattern. In the same section, subsection Halepensia is characterised by having only a granular exine. Section Para-sorghum shows a marked pollen morphologic al similarity with subsection Halepensia of section Eu-sorghum. Snowde n's concept that the two series Spontanea and Sativa are closely relat ed and that the cultivated Sorghum (series Sativa) might have evolved from the wild Sorghum (series Spontanea), is supported by the present observations.