PALYNO-MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF WEEDY MELLIFEROUS (BEE VISITED) PLANTS USING LIGHT MICROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES FROM SOUTHERN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT Pollen morphology of 10 different weedy bee foraged plants belong to 10 various families from Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were collected, identified, and studied using light microscopy (LM). The plants were Asphodelus tenuifolius, Euphorbia helioscopia, Parthenium hysterophorus, Rhazya stricta, Datura innoxia, Eruca sativa, Convolvulus arvensis, Anagallis arvensis, Galium aparine, and Anethum graveolens. Slides for light microscopic studies were prepared using materials of acetic acid, glycerin jelly and anthers of flowers. Pollen grain recorded ranged from monocolpate to hexacolporate and from psilate to echinate which were important systematic significance. Pollen size, shape, ratio of polar to equatorial diameter exine thickness, number of colpi, number of pores, equatorial diameter, polar diameter, colpus width, colpus length, spines number, length and width of spines were examined with the help of light microscopy and all these values were analyzed statistically using software SPSS. This research provides a data to the optimal utilization of bee foraged weed plants by honeybees and identification of bee flora for the beekeeping business and honey production. Results revealed that weedy melliferous flora of study area is very helpful for botanical origin, geographical origin of bee species and adulterations found in honey.