Pollen morphology in relation to the taxonomy and phylogeny of some nativeGreek Aegilops species - Polyploids sharing a common genome (C) and their diploid donors

The pollen morphology of some native Greek Aegilops species is investigated in LM (quantitative pollen characters) and SEM (exine sculpture) using ace tolysed material. Furthermore, quantitative data are subjected to a multiva riate analysis. The tetraploid Ae. cylindrica and its diploid parent Ae. ca udata show a distinct morphological affinity as regards their quantitative pollen profile and the features of the exine sculpture. The tetraploid AR t riuncialis is morphologically divergent from both its parents Ae. caudata a nd AR umbellulata due to the very large values of its quantitative pollen c haracters. However, the SEM survey of the exine sculpture indicates a rathe r high degree of similarity between Ae. triuncialis and Ae. umbellulata. No significant differences have been found between the two varieties of Ae. c audata (caudata and polyathera) concerning the quantitative pollen characte rs as a total or the morphology of the exine sculpture. The resultant clust ering of the taxa on the basis of the quantitative pollen characters as wel l as the recorded similarities of their exine pattern are related to their sectional classification based on cytogenetical and morphoiogical data.