Pollen analysis of representatives of the tribes Ampelopsideae, Cayratieae and Parthenocisseae and evolutionary history of Vitaceae genera

The family Vitaceae has a wide distribution, occurring in temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates. Vine members of the family thrive in different types of vegetation. Currently, the family includes five recognized tribes: Ampelopsideae, Cisseae, Cayratieae, Parthenocisseae, and Viteae. This study describes the pollen morphology of representatives of Ampelopsideae, Cayratieae, and Parthenocisseae. The other tribes are not described because they have been the subject of previous studies. The aim was to assess the relationships among the five tribes using multivariate analysis and to reconstruct the evolution of pollen characters using existing phylogenetic hypotheses. Specimens representing the three tribes were obtained from herbaria, treated by the acetolysis method, measured, photographed, and described using light and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that pollen grains are medium (25–50 µm) in size, isopolar, tricolporate, and subprolate to prolate. Ornamentation varies between species. Multivariate analysis was based on quantitative characters, of which pollen diameters, apocolpium side, and polar area index were the most significant. Tracing of pollen characters showed that size, shape, and ornamentation are an evolutionary trend within the family. This investigation expands the palynological knowledge on representatives of Vitaceae tribes, contributing to future palynotaxonomic and evolutionary studies.