THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BLUEBERRY SEED

1957 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh P. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Seed Development ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Tubes ◽  
Homogeneous Plasma ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Micropylar Endosperm ◽  
Mature Seeds ◽  
Number Of Seeds

Seed development was followed from fertilization to maturity. Pollen tubes required about 4 days to grow from stigma to ovule. In some plants, particularly bagged ones, nucellar cells remained alive and contents of the embryo sac degenerated. Many ovules did not develop. Seeds were counted and sorted in a random representative collection of 1075 berries. The average number of seeds per berry was 64.2. Of these 49.9 (or 77.7%) were imperfect. More complete pollination increased the percentage of normally developing ovules. Development of perfect seeds followed a familiar pattern. Unfamiliar features were noted as follows: 1. Degeneration of cells at both micropylar and chalazal ends resulted in a homogeneous plasma. This plasma formed strands across haustoria and almost completely surrounded the zygote. 2. Micropylar endosperm cells formed a dense plug. Developing embryos may have had difficulty in penetrating this plug. 3. Many embryos had died at some stage of development. 4. A conspicuous integumentary tapetum was present until the endosperm was about half its final size.Embryo development was the "soland" type. Mature seeds were "axile linear". Imperfect seeds were chiefly of two types: (a) medium sized and solid with middle integumentary layers lignified, or (b) small and collapsed with all tissues inside seed coat disintegrated. No imperfect seed had an embryo.

scholarly journals Asymbiotic germination of Vanilla planifolia in relation to the timing of seed collection and seed pretreatments

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Hsin Yeh ◽  
Kai-Yi Chen ◽  
Yung-I. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Development ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Vanilla Planifolia ◽  
Outermost Layer ◽  
Seed Collection ◽  
Seed Pretreatment ◽  
Immature Seeds ◽  
Mature Seeds

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.

scholarly journals Asymbiotic Germination of Mature Seeds and the Seed Development of Vanilla Planifolia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Hsin Yeh ◽  
Kai-Yi Chen ◽  
Yung-I Lee
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Seed Germination ◽  
Seed Development ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Vanilla Planifolia ◽  
Outermost Layer ◽  
Seed Pretreatment ◽  
Immature Seeds ◽  
Mature Seeds

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.

Early events in the embryo sac after intraspecific and interspecific pollinations in Rhododendron kawakamii and R. retusum

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Kaul ◽  
J. L. Rouse ◽  
E. G. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Seed Set ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Tubes ◽  
Interspecific Crosses ◽  
Primary Endosperm Nucleus ◽  
Kalmia Latifolia ◽  
Taxonomic Grouping ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Normal Fertilization

Early events in the embryo sac of Rhododendron kawakamii and R. retusum have been studied after compatible self-pollinations and eight interspecific crosses, using sectioned ovaries, pistil squashes, and seed-set data. Ovules of Rhododendron kawakamii and R. retusum are anatropous, unitegmic, and tenuinucellate, with a typical eight-nucleate, seven-celled embryo sac. Fertilization normally occurs 4–5 days after pollination. The zygote lays down a callose wall but remains undivided during the first 13–15 days after pollination. The primary endosperm nucleus divides soon after fertilization, and development is cellular ab initio. Crosses of R. kawakamii (♂) with R. santapaui and R. retusum and crosses of R. retusum (♂) with R. kawakamii, R. santapaui, R. ovatum, and R. tashiroi showed apparently normal fertilization in a majority of ovules entered by pollen tubes. In crosses of R. kawakamii (♂) with R. quadrasianum and Kalmia latifolia entry of pollen tubes into ovules was delayed and frequently abnormal. Apart from compatible self-pollinations of R. kawakamii an R. retusum, only the cross of R. kawakamii (♂) with R. santapaui produced healthy seedlings. Of the remaining seven interspecific crosses only three showed significant embryo development in control pistils left to mature in situ. Similarities and differences in the breeding behaviour of R. kawakamii and R. retusum are discussed with reference to their taxonomic grouping within subsection Pseudovireya.

Overgrowth of Pollen Tubes in Embryo Sacs of Rhododendron Following Interspecific Pollinations

1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
EG Williams ◽  
V Kaul ◽  
JL Rouse ◽  
BF Palser
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Tube ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Tubes ◽  
Egg Cell ◽  
Interspecific Crosses ◽  
Main Body

Frequent overgrowths of pollen tubes within the embryo sac are characteristic of a number of interspecific crosses in the genus Rhododendron (Ericaceae). The combined techniques of sectioning, squashing and whole-ovule clearing have confirmed that in ovules showing this phenomenon the pollen tube fails to terminate growth and release sperms on entry into a synergid; instead it continues to grow beyond the synergid and egg cell, often filling the main body of the embryo sac with a coiled and distorted mass. Such ovules fail to develop further. The occurrence and possible causes of this error syndrome are discussed.

scholarly journals Controlling seed development and seed size in Vicia faba: a role for seed coat-associated invertases and carbohydrate state

1996 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 823-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Weber ◽  
Ljudmilla Borisjuk ◽  
Ulrich Wobus
Keyword(s):  
Vicia Faba ◽  
Seed Development ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Seed Coat

Ultrastructural Aspects of the Self-Incompatibility Mechanism in Lycopersicum Peruvianum Mill

1973 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. DE NETTANCOURT ◽  
M. DEVREUX ◽  
A. BOZZINI ◽  
M. CRESTI ◽  
E. PACINI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Tube ◽  
Tube Wall ◽  
Degradation Mechanism ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Tubes ◽  
Self Incompatibility ◽  
Weak Reaction ◽  
General Hypothesis ◽  
Incompatible Pollen ◽  
Compatible Pollen

The experimental results obtained show that the tip of the incompatible pollen tube bursts open after the outer-wall has considerably expanded in the intercellular spaces of the conducting tissue and the inner-wall has disappeared and numerous particles have accumulated in the tube cytoplasm. These particles, which measure approximately 0.2 µm in diameter and give a weak reaction to the test of Thiéry, differ in many respects from the vesicles normally present in compatible pollen tubes growing through the style; they appear to resemble, in some cases, the spheres which are discharged by the compatible pollen tubes after they have reached the embryo-sac. It is considered that these observations support the current belief that the tube wall is the site of action for the incompatibility proteins and suggest that self-incompatibility is not a passive process resulting from lack of growth stimulation but an active event which leads to the destruction of the incompatible pollen tubes. The degradation mechanism involved appears similar to the one which enables the compatible pollen tube to release its contents in the degenerated synergid and presents some analogies with the lytic process taking place in virus-infected cells. The general hypothesis is presented that the particles observed in the cytoplasm of self-incompatible pollen tubes consist of a mixture of incompatibility proteins and of basic constituents of the tube wall.

Ovule and seed structure in Scolopia zeyheri (Scolopieae), with notes on the embryology of Salicaceae

Bothalia ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. A. Steyn ◽  
A. E. Van Wyk ◽  
G. F. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Microscopic Study ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Seed Structure ◽  
Globular Embryo ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
Old World ◽  
Seed Characters

Scolopia zeyheri (Nees) Harv. is a widespread African tree and a member of the largest genus of the tropical Old World tribe Scolopieae (Salicaceae sensu lato). This light microscopic study is the first report on ovule and seed structure in the genus and the tribe. Ovules vary from four to six per ovary, are anatropous. crassinucellate. bitegmic and occur in an epitropous (rarely pleurotropous). median-parietal position in the unilocular, usually bicarpellate ovary. A very extensive nucellus cap. comprising nucellus epidermal derivatives and parietal tissue, characterizes the young ovule during mega- sporogenesis and megagametogenesis, but the chalazal nucellus is poorly developed. During meiosis. the micropvlar dyad cell degenerates early. The functional dyad cell forms two megaspores of which the chalazal one usually develops into a Polygonum-type embryo sac. At maturity, the micropylar end of the embryo sac is covered by the remnants of the nucellus epidermis, the parietal tissue having degenerated. The globular embryo has a short suspensor and lies in nuclear endosperm becoming cellular. The seed coat develops from both integuments, is tannimferous. has a glabrous surface with stomata and a single layer of exotegmic, longitudinal fibres.Results are compared with relevant information previously reported for genera in the tribes Flacourtieae. Samvdeae. Saliceae, Scyphostegiae and for Oncoha Forssk. (Salicaceae sensu lato). Embryologically Scolopia shows a number of ple- siomorphic features compared to other Salicaceae. For example, it lacks an extranucellar embryo sac. an apomorphic fea­ture in many Salicaceae. A summary of ovule and seed characters in Salicaceae sensu lato is given and contrasted with data available for Achariaceae  sensu lato. Embryological data broadly supports the reclassification of genera, traditionally referred to Flacourtiaceae. amongst Salicaceae sensu lato and Achariaceae sensu lato.

The possible role of embryo sac degeneration in yield reduction of summer turnip rape cultivar Candle

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-598
Author(s):  
Xiuying Tian ◽  
L. Van Caeseele ◽  
M. J. Sumner
Keyword(s):  
Brassica Rapa ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Tubes ◽  
Yield Reduction ◽  
Turnip Rape ◽  
Key Words:Brassica

When pollination occurred within 24 h after anthesis, 69.2% of the pods of Brassica rapa cultivar Candle contained at least 50% fertilized ovules. If pollination occurred later than 4 d after anthesis, an occasional ovule near the base of the pistil was fertilized; however, no significant seed set was observed. Pollen tubes were observed entering the locules of the ovary from pollinations carried out as late as 5 d after anthesis. At 3 d after anthesis, in unpollinated flowers, a general deterioration of the embryo-sac contents began and gradually increased to include integumentary cells by 6 d after anthesis. Some ovules swelled as though they were fertilized, but no embryos were present. The results suggest that yield reductions in this species may occur because of the reduction of fertilization potential through rapid degeneration of embryo sacs following anthesis. Key words:Brassica rapa, embryo sac, yield

The pattern of seed development and maturation in beach pea (Lathyrus maritimus)

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurusamy Chinnasamy ◽  
Arya Kumar Bal
Keyword(s):  
Seed Development ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Protein Accumulation ◽  
Grass Pea ◽  
Hard Seed ◽  
Pea Seeds ◽  
Lathyrus Maritimus ◽  
Beach Pea

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.

scholarly journals Seed morphology and anatomy of Hypericum elegans Steph. ex Willd.

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
Piotr Szkudlarz
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Seed Morphology ◽  
Seed Sample ◽  
Cell Layers ◽  
Mature Seeds ◽  
Scanning Electron

Abstract Hypericum elegans is a rare perennial distributed primarily in Central and Eastern Europe. Seed morphology and anatomy in H. elegans was studied on the basis of a seed sample from its only locality in Poland. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the seed coat of mature seeds is composed basically of 3 cell layers: epidermal, subepidermal and sclerenchymatic. They are documented graphically here.

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