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Abstract Detail


Paleobotanical Section

Stakhov, V [1], Gyulai, Gabor [2], Szabó, Zoltan [3], Kovacs, Laszlo G. [4], Murenyetz, Lilja [5], Lagler, Richard [2], Toth, Zoltan [2], Yashina, S [1], Bittsánszky, Andras [2], Heszky, Laszlo [2], Gubin, S [1].

Pleistocene-Age Silene stenophylla Seeds Excavated in Russia – A Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis.

We studied the morphology of ancient seeds of Silene species (Caryophyllaceae) excavated from ancient gopher holes (Geomys ssp.) buried under a Pleistocene-age permafrost at a site near Kolyma, Russia. Using Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the seeds were identified to be of Silene stenophylla (Ledeb.). The ancient seeds were compared to seeds of S. stenophylla, Silene alba, Silene chloronata, and Silene nutans plants presently growing in the same and neighboring regions. Using radiocarbon dating, the approximate age of ancient seeds was determined to be about 20,000 to 40,000 years, which dates them to the Pleistocene age (1.806 million years to 11,500 years BP). SEM morphology of ancient Silene seeds were characteristic of those of contemporary S. stenophylla seeds, except for smaller size. Interestingly, the ancient seeds were damaged at their embryo, which might be the result of the gophers’ activity to prevent undesired germination. Acknowledgement: The project was supported by grants of US - Hungarian Fulbright Commission.


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1 - Institute of Physical, Chemical and Biological Problems in Soil Scienc, Puschino, Russia
2 - Szent Istvan University, Godollo, Hungary
3 - Szent Istvan Uinversity, Godollo, Hungary
4 - Missouri State University, Mountain Grove, MO, USA
5 - Biological Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Puschino, Russia
6 - Institute of Physical, Chemical and Biological Problems in Soil Scienc, Puschino, Russia
7 - Institute of Physical, Chemical and Biological Problems in Soil Scienc, Puschino, Russia

Keywords:
Silene species
Pleistocene
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Russia.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P54007
Abstract ID:2131


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