A scanning electron microscope study of Cucurbita maxima seed coat structure

The examination of the seed coat of Cucurbita maxima with the scanning electron microscope provided information about the three-dimensional structure of the seed coat cells. The lumpy appearance of the spongy parenchyma cells indicated that localized wall growth must have occurred. Also of particular interest were the reticulate secondary wall thickenings in the hypodermal and spongy parenchyma regions of the seed coat. The developing squash seed coat may prove to be a good model system in which to study the cell wall deposition process.