Distinguishing oblacinska sour cherry clones (prunus cerasus l.) By pollen morphology

Morphology and ultrastructure of pollen grains were studied in 13 Oblacinska sour cherry clones in three years using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All studied clones had isopolar, radially symmetric and tricolpate pollen grains. Length and width of pollen grains varied in a range of 50.03-55.97 mu m and 25.16-28.37 mu m respectively. Pollen shape in all the studied clones was identified as prolate. The smallest colpus length was found in the clone 8 (43.73 mu m), and the highest in the clone 3 (49.16 mu m). The highest colpus and mesocolpium width had the clone 3 (1.73 mu m; 14.87 mu m) and the lowest had the clone 7 (1.46 mu m; 13.78 mu m). All studied clones had striate exine ornamentation. Number of ridges per 100 mu m(2) of the exine surface was the highest in the clone 11 (16.7) and lowest in the clone 2 (14.1). Ridge and furrow width ranged from 0.46 to 0.61 mu m and from 0.45 to 0.59 mu m, respectively. The clones have been classified into three clusters based on all studied properties. Pollen grains examination by SEM indicated that several morphological parameters (pollen size and exine characteristics) can be used to distinguish Oblacinska sour cherry clones