Analysis of pollen fertility of coenopopulations of the genus Alyssum L. in the Southern Urals

This study analyzed the fertility of two species of petrophytic genus Alyssum – A. obovatum and A. tortuosum in populations in the Southern Urals. The study examined linear sizes of pollen grains, pollen fertility, and populationcomparisons in contaminated and non-polluted habitats. We found that pollen fertility remains high in natural populationsof species, although pollen fertility level of A. tortuosum was slightly lower compared to A. obovatum. In a contaminatedhabitat, a thickening of the exine of pollen grains was found.