University of Fayoum

Faculty of Science
Department of Botany

PALYNOLOGY
For
2nd year Geology Students
&
3rd year Botany Students

Prepared by: Asmaa khamiss Revised by: Dr. Hesham El-

Fayoumi
 Introduction
Palynology
Is the branch of science which, deals with study of
pollen grains and spores of the vascular plants.
It also comprises the study of the microfossils
other than pollen grains and spores, e.g.: cysts
or cyst-like bodies of algae or of unknown origin.
The word palynology was derived from the Greek
verb “palynein”, which means spread around.

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

 What is pollen?

1. Pollen grains represent the microscopic reproductive

units produced inside the anther of the flower.
2. Usually oval or rounded in shape.
3. Pollen grains are spread around from the male
organ to pollinate the female organ in the same
flower (self pollination) or in another flower of the
same species (cross pollination), then fertilization
takes place, this spreading process called anthesis.
4. Pollen grains are spread around by the wind,
insects, animals, water, or even by the human.

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

 T.S. through the anther
showing two lobes and four pollen sacs containing the
pollen grains.

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

 Pollen
1- There are two types of the
microscopic reproductive units:
* Male (microspores)
known as pollen
grains.
* Female (macrospores)
knows as ovules.
2- Produced by the higher
vascular plants:
*Gymnosperms and
*Angiosperms.
Spore
1- There are two types of the
microscopic reproductive unit :
* Male (microspores).
* Female (megaspores).
2- Produced by the lower
vascular plants :
*Pteridophytes and
*Bryophytes.

3- Produced inside the pollen 3- Produced inside certain

sacs . structures called sporangia.

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

 Life cycle of the flowering plants
carrying anthesis
Adult plant (2n) Anther(1n) pollen
grains

Carpel(1n) pollination

Germination of the pollen on

Seedling the stigma and
producing of the pollen tube

Fertilization

Developed into
Embryo (2n) Zygote (2n)

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi
 Morphological characters of pollen grains
and spores:
# Sporoderm (stratification of pollen wall)
Sporoderm

Perine Exine Intine

Less resistant to decay. Resistant layer made of The inner to the exine
sporopollenin, consists of: made of cellulose.

Sexine Nexine
Outer sculpturing exine. Inner sculpturing
exine.

Tectum Columella Outer Layer Inner Layer

Partially covering Rod-like elements.
Layer.
Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi
 Structure of pollen wall (Sporoderm)

Spin (sculpture)
Tectum
Columella
Bacula
Nexine 1
Nexine 2
Intine

Tectum + Columella + Bacula = Sexine.

Nexine 1 + Nexine 2 = Nexine.
Sexine + Nexine = Exine (Sporopollenin).

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi
# Shapes of pollen grains:
1- Circular

2- Elliptic

3- Triangular

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

4- Quadrangular

5- Quinquangular

6- Rectangular

7- Rhombic

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

 # Apertures (NPC–system)
1- Pollen grain germinates by producing a germination
tubes, which penetrate the sporoderm through certain
holes called apertures.

2- The number, shape and distribution of these

apertures vary from one species to another.

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

3- When sporoderm has no obvious apertures, the
pollen grain described as “in-aperturate” (atreme).

4- A special system has been devised to describe

the Number, Position, and Character of the apertures
in pollen grains, it generally known as NPC-system.

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

1- Number of the apertures:

Pollen grains may have:

 One aperture and called mono…..

 Two apertures and called bi………
 Three apertures and called tri………
 Four apertures and called tetra……
 Five apertures and called penta….
 Six apertures and called hexa…..
 Many(>6) and called poly……

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

2- Position of apertures:

There are three different positions:

Polar pollen grain has only one aperture situated
at one pole, or two apertures at the two
opposite poles.
Zono… (equatorial): where there are three or more
apertures distributed at equal distances
around it’s equatorial line.
Panto… (global): in which the apertures are scattered
allover the pollen wall at equal or un-equal
distances.

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

3- Character of apertures:
Apertures may be
Simple Compound

Pore Colpus Colporate

Rounded or elongated or fusiform which is a combi-
more or less apertures. nation of pores
circular in 3-branched furrow and colpi, where
surface view. (trichotomocolpate). the colpus is in
orate, more or less the outer layer
rounded apertures. of the exine,
while the
pore is
in the inner layer .

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi

 For example: if we have this pollen grain

We can describe it as:

Poly-panto-porate
It means that: this grain has many pore-like apertures,
which scattered allover the grain.

Palynology- Asmaa Khamiss & Hesham Elfayoumi