Pollen morphology and pollen elemental composition of select Philippine endemic gingers of tribe Alpinieae (Zingiberaceae)

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Issue

thnhmjournal vol20 no2

Authors

Kim S. Racho

Plant Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon, 8714, Philippines

Maria Melanie M. Guiang

Plant Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon, 8714, Philippines / Center for Biodiversity Research Extension in Mindanao, Central Mindanao

Hannah P. Lumista

Plant Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon, 8714, Philippines

Noe P. Mendez

Florfe M. Acma

Abstract

Pollen morphology and elemental composition offer critical insights into the structural, reproductive, and species-level diversity of endemic Philippine gingers in the tribe Alpinieae. This study characterized the pollen morphology and determined the elemental composition of four endemic ginger species collected from Mindanao, Philippines: Alpinia haenkei C. Presl, Alpinia rufa C. Presl; Etlingera dostseiana Naive, Demayo and Alejandro; and Wurfbainia elegans (Ridl.) Škorničk. and A.D.Poulsen. Pollen samples were obtained from various populations across multiple locations on the island. Pollen morphology was examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while major and trace elements were determined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Pollen in all species is characterized as spheroidal and inaperturate. Pollen size ranged from 54–60 µm in A. haenkei, 30–45 µm in A. rufa, 30–55 µm in E. dostseiana, and 44–50 µm in W. elegans. Pollen color and ornamentation varied among the species: A. haenkei, A. rufa, and W. elegans produced brown, echinate pollen, whereas E. dostseiana had light-yellow, psilate pollen. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed that carbon (C) and oxygen (O) were the dominant elements across all species, while potassium (K) and copper (Cu) were present in trace amounts. These findings establish a comprehensive baseline for pollen morphology and elemental composition, with direct relevance to reproductive biology, species delimitation, and evolutionary research. Integrating these complementary datasets enhances our understanding of taxonomic relationships and afirms that pollen attributes are key diagnostic tools within the tribe Alpinieae.

Attachment

THNHMJ 20(2)-01.pdf

Keywords

alpinieae

elemental composition

endemic

Philippine gingers

pollen morphology

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