MICRO-MACROMORPHOLOGLYCAL STUDY OF THE GENUS CICER L. (FABACEAE) IN IRAN

In this study, eleven species of genus Cicer L. were studied and morphological and micro-morphological characters were evaluated. These species are classified in 4 sections: Monocicer, Chamaecicer, Polycicer and Acanthocicer. The understudied species assessed by biometric study, and about 40 quantitative and 38 qualitative characters were assessed. Phenetic analysis was carried out using SPSS software, and phenograms of these species were prepared. Furthermore, PCA analysis was carried out and the most variable characters were determined. Finally, the seeds and pollen of these species were also investigated using S. E. M electronic microscope, and the tables of characters were formed individually for them. Afterward, phenetic analysis and phenogram preparation were done based on morphological characters of seeds and pollen of the species, and the following results were obtained: 1.Distinction of C. kermanense Bornm., as an independent species, from C. spiroceras Juab. & Spach, in contrary to what mentioned in Flora of Iran. 2. Transferring C. subaphyllum Boiss. from Polycicer section to the Acanthocicer section. 3. In spite of leaf polymorphism seen in C. tragacanthoides Jaub. & Spach, it seems that the pollen characters are sufficient to devide it to varieties. 4. Division of species of this genus using quantitative and qualitative specifications of seeds. 5. Preparation of the table of characters for pollen and seeds of all species.