Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T01:04:12.042Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Observation of unique structures between the endosperm and embryo in seeds of Glycine max

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

R. W. Yaklich ,
W. P. Wergin  and
E. F. Erbe
R. W. Yaklich*
Affiliation:
Soybean and Alfalfa Research Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Bldg. 008, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
W. P. Wergin
Affiliation:
Electron Microscopy Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Bldg. 177B, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
E. F. Erbe
Affiliation:
Electron Microscopy Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Bldg. 177B, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
*
*Correspondence
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Openings are present on the inside surface of the endosperm cell wall adjacent to the developing cotyledon. The objective of this study was to determine if the openings were present during seed growth, maturation and imbibition by observing the inside surface of the endosperm with low temperature scanning electron microscopy. The openings were found to be present throughout seed development, maturation and imbibition. The openings were not formed by attachment to the cotyledon surface. However, the inner surface of the endosperm was occasionally attached to the surface of the embryo. At seed maturity, outgrowths on the cotyledon cell wall surface were embedded in the cell wall of the inside surface of the endosperm. These structures were also observed in the imbibing seed. These points of contact between the endosperm and embryo of soybean seeds may align the embryo, endosperm and seed coat during growth, desiccation and imbibition.

Keywords

Glycine max (L.) Merr.soybeanseed coatcotyledonmicroscopy
Type
Development
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 1996 , pp. 183 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bradford, K.J. (1994) Water stress and the water relations of seed development: a critical review. Crop Science 34, 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fehr, W.R., Caviness, C.E., Burmood, D.T. and Pennington, J.S. (1971) Stage of development descriptions for soybeans, Glycine max L. Merr. Crop Science 11, 929–931.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herman, E.M. (1987) Immunogold-localization and synthesis of an oil-body membrane protein in developing soybean seeds. Planta 172, 336–345.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ISTA (1985) International rules for seed testing. Seed Science and Technology 13, 299–355.Google Scholar
Offler, C.E. and Patrick, J.W. (1984) Cellular structure, plasma membrane surface areas and plasmodesmatal frequencies of seed coats of Phaseolus vulgaris L. in relation to photosynthate transfer. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 11, 79–99.Google Scholar
Offler, C.E., Nerlich, S.M. and Patrick, J.W. (1989) Pathway of photosynthate transfer in the developing seed of Vicia faba L. Transfer in relation to seed anatomy. Journal of Experimental Botany 40, 769–780.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oparka, K.J. and Gates, P. (1981) Transport of assimilates in the developing caryopsis of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Ultrastructure of the pericarp vascular bundle and its connections with the aleurone layer. Planta 151, 561–573.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thorne, J.H. (1981) Morphology and ultrastructure of maternal seed tissues of soybean in relation to the import of photosynthate. Plant Physiology 67, 1016–1025.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wergin, W.P. and Erbe, E.F. (1992) Techniques for obtaining and observing complementary images with a low-temperature field emission SEM and subsequent comparison of the identical cells in freeze-etch replicas viewed with a TEM. Scanning 14, 17–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wergin, W.P. and Erbe, E.F. (1991a) Increasing resolution and versatility in low temperature conventional and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Scanning Microscopy 5, 927–936.Google Scholar
Wergin, W.P. and Erbe, E.F. (1991b) Using high vacuum evaporation to obtain high resolution low temperature images of freeze-fractured membranes from yeast. Proceedings of the 49th Annual Meeting of the Electron Microscope Society of America 49, 514–515.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolswinkel, P. (1992) Transport of nutrients into developing seeds: a review of physiological mechanisms. Seed Science Research 2, 59–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yaklich, R.W., Kulik, M.M. and Garrison, C.S. (1979) Evaluation of vigor in soybean seeds: influence of date of planting and soil type on emergence, stand, and yield. Crop Science 19, 242–246CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yaklich, R.W., Vigil, E.L., Erbe, E.F. and Wergin, W.P. (1992) The fine structure of aleurone cells in the soybean seed coat. Protoplasma 167, 108–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yaklich, R.W., Vigil, E.L. and Wergin, W.P. (1984) Scanning electron microscopy of soybean seed coat. Scanning Electron Microscopy 11, 991–1000.Google Scholar
Yaklich, R.W., Wergin, W.P. and Vigil, E.L. (1986) Special secretory cells in the soybean seed coat. Protoplasma 134, 78–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar