scholarly journals Semi-permeable layer formation during seed development in Elymus nutans and Elymus sibiricus

2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhou ◽  
Yanrong Wang ◽  
Jason Trethewey

<p>The semi-permeable layer is a layer in the seeds of certain plants that restricts or impedes the exchange of the solute while allowing the permeability of internal and external water and gas, which is valuable protection to sustain the health and secure the growth, development and germination. In this study, the formation time and location of the semi-permeable layer in seed coats of <em>Elymus nutants</em> (Griseb.) and <em>Elymus sibiricus</em> (L.) were investigated. The experimental seed materials were gathered in the field from the flowering to seed maturation. The light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy for lanthanum nitrate identification were used to examine the characteristics of pericarp, seed coat and nucellus. The results showed that the semi-permeable layer was identified as the position, which can inhibit the penetration of the lanthanum, and it was checked as an amorphous membrane located at the outermost layer of the seed coat that is firmly attached to the seed coat. With seed development, the cells had differentiated and some parts of the ovary and the outer integument had disappeared. The semi-permeable layer originated from the outer layer of the inner integument, which was the original form of the seed coat. It can be stained by the Sudan III and clearly distinguished from other parts of the seed. The formation time of the semi-permeable layer in both species was nearly at 10 to 12 days post-anthesis (dpa), whereas seed physiological maturity was 24 to 26 dpa.</p>

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keliang Zhang ◽  
Weizhang Cao ◽  
Jerry M. Baskin ◽  
Carol C. Baskin ◽  
Jing Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Seeds of Paeonia ostii have been proposed as a source of raw material for the production of edible oil; however, lack of information about the developmental biology of the seeds hampers our ability to use them. Our aim was to investigate development of the seed coat, endosperm and embryo of P. ostii in relation to timing of accumulation of nutrient reserves from pollination to seed maturity. Ovules and developing seeds of P. ostii were collected at various stages of development from zygote to maturity. Seed fresh mass, dry mass, germination, moisture, soluble sugars, starch, protein and oil content were determined. Ontogeny of seeds including embryo, endosperm and seed coat were analyzed histologically. Results The ovule of P. ostii is anatropous, crassinucellate and bitegmic. The zygote begins to divide at about 5 days after pollination (DAP), and the division is not accompanied by cell wall formation. By 25 DAP, the proembryo begins to cellularize. Thereafter, several embryo primordia appear at the surface of the cellularized proembryo, but only one matures. Endosperm development follows the typical nuclear type. The seed coat is derived from the outer integument. During seed development, soluble sugars, starch and crude fat content increased and then decreased, with maximum contents at 60, 80 and 100 DAP, respectively. Protein content was relatively low compared with soluble sugars and crude fat, but it increased throughout seed development. Conclusions During seed development in P. ostii, the seed coat acts as a temporary storage tissue. Embryo development of P. ostii can be divided into two stages: a coenocytic proembryo from zygote (n + n) that degenerates and a somatic embryo from peripheral cells of the proembryo (2n → 2n). This pattern of embryogeny differs from that of all other angiosperms, but it is similar to that of gymnosperms.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 333
Author(s):  
Keliang Zhang ◽  
Yin Zhang ◽  
Yusong Ji ◽  
Jeffrey L. Walck ◽  
Jun Tao

Lepidium apetalum (Brassicaceae) is an annual or biennial weed widely distributed in Asia and Europe. The outer surface of L. apetalum seeds produces a large amount of mucilage. The primary aim of this study was to explore the dormancy characteristics and to determine how mucilage develops. The role of mucilage in water absorption/dehydration, the effects of after-ripening, gibberellin acid (GA3), cold stratification and seed coat scarification on germination, the role of mucilage in germination and seedling growth during drought, and the progress of mucilage production during seed development were investigated. The results indicate that the best temperature regime for germination was 10/20 °C. After-ripening, GA3 and seed coat scarification helped to break dormancy. Light promoted germination. Seedling growth of mucilaged seeds were significantly higher than those of demucilaged seeds at −0.606 and −1.027 MPa. Anatomical changes during seed development showed that mucilage was derived from the outer layer of the outer integument cells. Our findings suggest that seeds of L. apetalum exhibited non-deep physiological dormancy. The dormancy characteristics along with mucilage production give seeds of L. apetalum a competitive advantage over other species, and thus contribute to its potential as a weed. Effective control of this weed can be achieved by deep tillage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Hsin Yeh ◽  
Kai-Yi Chen ◽  
Yung-I. Lee

Abstract Background Vanilla planifolia is an important tropical orchid for production of natural vanilla flavor. Traditionally, V. planifolia is propagated by stem cuttings, which produces identical genotype that are sensitive to virulent pathogens. However, propagation with seed germination of V. planifolia is intricate and unstable because the seed coat is extremely hard with strong hydrophobic nature. A better understanding of seed development, especially the formation of impermeable seed coat would provide insights into seed propagation and conservation of genetic resources of Vanilla. Results We found that soaking mature seeds in 4% sodium hypochlorite solution from 75 to 90 min significantly increased germination. For the culture of immature seeds, the seed collection at 45 days after pollination (DAP) had the highest germination percentage. We then investigated the anatomical features during seed development that associated with the effect of seed pretreatment on raising seed germination percentage. The 45-DAP immature seeds have developed globular embryos and the thickened non-lignified cell wall at the outermost layer of the outer seed coat. Seeds at 60 DAP and subsequent stages germinated poorly. As the seed approached maturity, the cell wall of the outermost layer of the outer seed coat became lignified and finally compressed into a thick envelope at maturity. On toluidine blue O staining, the wall of outer seed coat stained greenish blue, indicating the presence of phenolic compounds. As well, on Nile red staining, a cuticular substance was detected in the surface wall of the embryo proper and the innermost wall of the inner seed coat. Conclusion We report a reliable protocol for seed pretreatment of mature seeds and for immature seeds culture based on a defined time schedule of V. plantifolia seed development. The window for successful germination of culturing immature seed was short. The quick accumulation of lignin, phenolics and/or phytomelanins in the seed coat may seriously inhibit seed germination after 45 DAP. As seeds matured, the thickened and lignified seed coat formed an impermeable envelope surrounding the embryo, which may play an important role in inducing dormancy. Further studies covering different maturity of green capsules are required to understand the optimal seed maturity and germination of seeds.


2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim N. Hamilton ◽  
Sarah E. Ashmore ◽  
Rod A. Drew ◽  
Hugh W. Pritchard

Combinational traits of seed size and seed-coat hardness in Citrus garrawayi (F.M.Bailey) (syn. of Microcitrus garrowayi) were investigated as markers for estimation of seed morphological and physiological maturity. Seed size (length) and coat hardness correlated well with changes in seed coat and embryo morphological development, dry-weight accumulation, decreases in moisture content and a significant increase in germinability. Seed moisture content decreased from 82 ± 1% in immature seeds to 40 ± 1% at seed maturation. The outer integument of immature seeds consisted of thin-walled epidermal fibres from which outgrowths of emerging protrusions were observed. In comparison, mature seed coats were characterised by the thickening of the cell walls of the epidermal fibres from which arose numerous protrusions covered by an extensive mucilage layer. Immature seeds, with incomplete embryo and seed-coat histodiffereniation, had a low mean germination percentage of 4 ± 4%. Premature seeds, with a differentiated embryonic axis, were capable of much higher levels of germination (51 ± 10%) before the attainment of mass maturity. Mature seeds, with the most well differentiated embryonic axis and maximum mean dry weight, had the significantly highest level of germination (88 ± 3%).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Hsin Yeh ◽  
Kai-Yi Chen ◽  
Yung-I Lee

Abstract Background: Vanilla planifolia is an important tropical orchid for production of natural vanilla flavor. Traditionally, V. planifolia is propagated by stem cuttings, which produces identical genotype that are sensitive to virulent pathogens. However, sexual propagation with seed germination of V. planifolia is intricate and unstable because of the extremely hard seed coat. A better understanding of seed development, especially the formation of impermeable seed coat would provide insights into seed propagation and conservation of genetic resources of Vanilla.Results: We found that soaking mature seeds in 4 % sodium hypochlorite solution from 75 to 90 min significantly increased germination and that immature seeds collected at 45 days after pollination (DAP) had the highest germination percentage. We then investigated the anatomical features during seed development that associated with the effect of seed pretreatment on raising seed germination percentage. The 45-DAP immature seeds have developed globular embryos and the thickened non-lignified cell wall at the outermost layer of the outer seed coat. After 60 DAP, the cell wall of the outermost layer of the outer seed coat became lignified and finally compressed into a thick envelope. These features matches the significant decreases of immature seed germination percentage after 60 DAP. Conclusion: We report a reliable protocol for seed pretreatment of mature seeds and for immature seeds culture based on a defined time schedule of V. plantifolia seed development. The thickened and lignified seed coat formed an impermeable envelope surrounding the embryo, and might play an important role in seed dormancy of V. plantifolia.


2017 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Eduardo García-Villanueva ◽  
E. Mark Engleman

Seeds of several Yucca species have been studied by Arnott and Horner. They mainly studied the nature condition and stated that the extra-embryonic food reserve tissue is a perisperm. This paper provides ontogenic evidence that this tissue is an endosperm with nuclear development type. The seed shape is nearly a triangular prism less than 1 cm long, black color and the raphe groove is conspicuous. The seed coat is derived exclusively from the outer integument. The exotesta external periclinal cell wall appears with irregular thickness. Both mesotesta and endotesta grow irregularly inward the seed confering to the endosperm a ruminate appearance. Toward seed maturity, the inner integument tissues disappear, thus fusion between intertegumentary and tegmen-nucellar cuticles occurs; valuable ontogenic information is showed by the cuticles, due to its persistence in spite of its generative tissue disappearance. The embryo development increases until 10 weeks after anthesis, it is cylindric, folds like "S" and two thirds of its chalazal lenght correspond to the cotyledon.


2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurusamy Chinnasamy ◽  
Arya Kumar Bal

The developmental patterns of seed, seed coat, and hardseededness were studied in naturally growing crop plants of beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus (L.) Bigel.) at six reproductive growth stages (S1–S6). Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) seeds were used for comparison in some experiments. The accumulation of fresh and dry weight in pod shell and seed of beach pea and pod shell of grass pea followed an almost sigmoidal pattern. However, grass pea seed showed a linear pattern of weight accumulation. During maturation, moisture content of pod shells and seeds decreased because of dehydration. Beach pea seeds were able to germinate precociously at S4. Seeds collected between S1 and S3 failed to germinate because of immaturity, whereas the development of hard seed coats prevented germination in seeds gathered at S5 and S6. An imbibition test revealed that hardseededness completely prevented water absorption of S5 and S6 seeds even after 24 days of soaking. In grass pea, precocious seed germination was observed at S3. However, speed of germination, germination percentage, seedling length and dry weight increased as seeds approached maturity. Lipid and protein accumulation in seeds of both species increased progressively with maturity and showed a positive correlation with seed weight accumulation. In both beach pea and grass pea seeds, S6 was identified as a physiological maturity stage.Key words: beach pea, grass pea, hard seed, imbibition, Lathyrus, seed coat, seed development, water impermeability.


2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhou ◽  
Yanrong Wang ◽  
Zulfi Jahufer

The presence of the semi-permeable layer is determined in Roegneria nutans (Keng.) Keng, Achnatherum inebrians (Hance.) Keng, Hordeum vulgare var. nudum Hook. f., Triticale, Festuca sinensis Keng., and Bromus inermis Leyss. using the lanthanum nitrate tracer method, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. It was an amorphous membranous structure firmly attached on the external portion of the seed coat. The diversified chemical composition of the semi-permeable layer of the species studied is also analyzed by histochemical staining. R. nutans, A. inebrians, H. vulgare var. nudum, and Triticale were found to contain lipids in the semi-permeable layer. F. sinensis had pectin whereas B. inermis has cellulose in the said layer. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v42i1.15802 Bangladesh J. Bot. 42(1): 23-29, 2013 (June)


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 2420-2424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Baker ◽  
Harry C. Minor ◽  
Billy G. Cumbie

Seeds of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were harvested from greenhouse-grown plants and fractures of the seed coat were examined with a scanning electron microscope. The seed coat was well differentiated from the outer integument when the seed had reached approximately 30% maximum seed size. At this time, the osteosclereids began to separate, becoming fully detached along their radial walls by 50% maximum seed size. Macrosclereid secondary wall development occurred during growth of the seed from 50 to 100% maximum seed size. Near R6 (100% maximum seed size) the endothelium began differentiation from the integumentary tapetum (inner integument) and was fully differentiated by physiological maturity (R7). From R7 to harvest maturity (R8) the seed lost moisture content and decreased in size. The parenchyma of the seed coat collapsed in response to this dehydration.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document