Seed formation in two species of Adesmia (Fabaceae): co‐occurrence of micropylar and lateral endosperm haustoria in legumes and its taxonomic value

Seed ontogeny of Adesmia bicolor and Adesmia latifolia was analysed using light microscopy and standard histological techniques. Fertilization was porogamic. Linear proembryonal tetrads were observed in A. bicolor. The robust elongated suspensors possessed specialized basal cells. The nucellar epidermis became endothelial. The free‐nuclear endosperm produced a micropylar, filamentous and ephemeral haustorium and a lateral sac‐like haustorium at the funicular side. The cellular endosperm was initiated from the micropylar zone after the cordiform embryo stage. It mostly disintegrated in mature seeds. The sclerified bilayered testa was derived from the outer ovular integument. Different astrosclereid arrangements beyond the lens in both Adesmia species may be related to the different habitats of the two species. The occurrence of both micropylar and lateral nuclear endosperm haustoria has so far not been reported in Fabaceae and is the most distinctive embryological character of Adesmieae. The taxonomic value of the mostly uniform morphology of the suspensor in the Adesmia species studied could also be relevant. The nature of seed endothelia in many Fabaceae requires accurate redetermination prior to taxonomic use. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 602–612.     

大车前胚乳发育的超微结构研究

采用透射电镜技术对大车前(Plantago major L.)胚乳发育的超微结构进行了研究。结果表明:(1)大车前为细胞型胚乳;初生胚乳核经一次横分裂产生1个珠孔室细胞和1个合点室细胞;珠孔室两次纵向分裂一次横向分裂形成2层8个细胞,位于上层的4个细胞发育为4个珠孔吸器,位于下层的4个细胞发育为胚乳本体;合点室细胞进行一次核分裂,发育为两核的合点吸器。(2)珠孔吸器呈管状插入珠被组织,珠孔端细胞壁加厚呈现少量分支并具有壁内突,壁内突周围细胞质里分布着大量线粒体、粗面内质网、高尔基体、质体等,细胞核与核仁明显,细胞质浓厚,代谢活动旺盛;球胚期,珠孔吸器的体积呈现最大值,珠孔吸器周围的珠被组织均被水解,形成明显的空腔。珠孔吸器从珠被组织吸收并转运营养物质至胚乳本体,参与胚乳的构建与营养物质的贮藏。球胚后期,珠孔吸器逐渐退化。(3)4个胚乳本体原始细胞具旺盛的分生能力,经不断的平周与垂周分裂增加胚乳细胞数目,使胚乳本体呈现圆球体状,并将胚包围其中;珠孔吸器、合点吸器以及珠被绒毡层吸收转运的营养物质贮存在胚乳本体;球胚后期,随着胚柄的退化,胚体周围的胚乳细胞被水解,为发育的胚所利用。(4)合点吸器的2个细胞核与核仁巨大,线粒体、质体、高尔基体、内质网主要绕核分布,液泡化明显;胚体与胚乳本体的体积增大,逐渐将合点吸器向胚珠合点部位挤压,合点吸器周围的合点组织逐渐被水解,形成巨大空腔。合点吸器自珠心组织吸收并转运营养物质至胚乳本体,参与胚乳的结构构建与营养物质的贮藏。球胚后期,合点吸器逐渐失去功能,呈现退化状态。     

Embryological Studies on Sagittaria guayanensis H. B. K. Subsp. lappula (D. Don) Bojin (Alismataceae)

This paper deals with the embryological characteristics of Sagittaria guayanensis H. B.K. subsp. lappula (D. Don) Bojin. The anther wall development follows the Monocotyledonous type. The cytokinesis of microspore mother cell in meiosis is of the Successive type. The tetrads of microspores show an isobilateral arrangement, and the mature pollen grains are 3-celled. The ovule is bitegminous, pseudo-crassinucellate and anatropous. The megaspore mother cell originates directly from a single archesporial cell. The mature embryo sac consists of 7 cells including 8 nuclei and conforms to the Allium type. The two polar nuclei do not fuse into a secondary nucleus before fertilization. Instead, one sperm fuses with the micropylar end polar nucleus first , and the fertilized polar nucleus then migrates to the chalazal end, where it fuses with the second polar nucleus, forming the primary endosperm nucleus. The embryo development conforms to the Caryophyllad type. The mature embryo is U-shaped and forms the embryonic shoot apex accompanied by two leaves. The endosperm development corresponds to the Helobial type. The primary endosperm nucleus (invariably lying in the chalazal part of the embryo sac) divides and forms two chambers:large micropylar one and small chalazal one. The chalazal endosperm chamber remains binucleate, while, in the micropylar chamber free nuclear divisions occur and then cellnlarization takes place. During the embryo formation the endosperm gradually degrades and can not be found in the mature seed. The subgenus Lophotocarpus is different from the subgenus Sagittaria in some embryological aspects, especially in the structure of mature embryo sac and the double fertilization process.     

冠果草的胚胎学研究

冠果草花药壁的发育为单子口十型,绒毡层为周原质团型。小孢子母细胞减数分裂为连续型,四分体呈左右对称式排列,成熟花粉为三细胞型。双珠被,假厚珠心,倒生胚珠。胚囊发育为葱型,成熟胚囊的特点是两个极核分别位于中央细胞两端,不融合成次生核。受精过程中,一个精于与卵核融合形成合子,另一精子先与珠孔端极核融合,之后受精极核再移动到合点端与另一极核融合,形成初生胚乳核。胚的发育为石竹型。成熟胚呈马蹄形,具有2片真叶。胚乳发育为沼生目型。随着胚的发育,胚乳细胞逐渐解体,成熟种子中无胚乳。     

宁夏枸杞大孢子发生和雌配子体发育的细胞学研究

采用半薄切片技术和组织化学染色法对宁夏枸杞大孢子发生和雌配子体发育过程中的细胞结构变化及营养物质积累特征进行了观察。结果表明,(1)宁夏枸杞为中轴胎座,多室子房,倒生胚珠,单珠被,薄珠心类型。(2)位于珠心表皮下的孢原细胞可直接发育为大孢子母细胞,减数分裂后形成直线型大孢子四分体,合点端第一个大孢子发育为功能大孢子,胚囊发育类型为蓼型,具有珠被绒毡层。(3)初形成的胚囊外周组织中没有营养物质积累,成熟胚囊时期出现了大量的淀粉粒且呈珠孔端明显多于合点端的极性分布特征。(4)助细胞的珠孔端具有明显的丝状器结构,呈PAS正反应表现出多糖性质,成熟胚囊具有承珠盘结构。     

EMBRYOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LACHNANTHES CAROLINIANA (HAEMODORACEAE)

Embryological development of Lachnanthes caroliniana was studied utilizing standard anatomical techniques and SEM. Lachnanthes has a monocotyledonous anther wall development (endothecial cells with spiral secondary wall thickenings), successive microsporogenesis, and amoeboid (periplasmodial) tapetal development. Mature pollen grains are 2-nucleate with a proximal, fusiform generative cell. Ovules are initiated as 5–7 cylindrical primordia from a common placental base. Basal ovular swellings collectively contribute to the enlarged, peltate placenta. Mature ovules are pleurotropous, anatropous, bitegmic, and crassinucellate; the nucellus consists of a chalazal hypostase, radially elongate lateral cells, and a prominent micropylar nucellar cap. Megasporogenesis is successive, forming a linear tetrad of megaspores. Megagametogenesis is monosporic; the female gametophyte is of the Polygonum-type with relatively large, pyriform antipodals. Endosperm formation is helobial, resulting in the establishment of a ring of four thick-walled basal endosperm cells (the chalazal chamber) and numerous free nuclei (in the micropylar chamber). The mature cellular endosperm is filled with starch grains and has a chalazal cavity and a thick-walled peripheral layer. The discoid, peltately attached seeds have marginal wings derived by anticlinal divisions and buckling of the outer integument alone. Inner and middle cuticular layers are present in the seed coat. Lachnanthes is similar to all other investigated members of the Haemodoraceae in major embryological features. The significance of embryological evidence with regard to interfamilial classification is discussed. Future studies of ovule and seed development may prove valuable in phylogenetic studies in assessing the homology of placental, ovule, and seed morphology and anatomy.     

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SEED AND FRUIT IN RHINANTHUS MAJOR AND R. SEROTINUS

There are seven sessile, campylotropous, discoid ovules in each loculus of the anteroposteriorly flattened bilocular ovary. They are arranged alternately in two rows in each chamber on the axile placenta which is nodular where the ovules are borne. Nucellus degenerates early except at the chalazal end of the curved embryo sac, and the inntermost layer of the integument functions as endothelium. The aggressive, multinucleate micropylar haustorium grows as a tubular body through the micropylar canal and ramifies in the placenta while the two-nucleate chalazal haustorium creates a large space by digesting a good deal of the chalazal tissue. Endosperm is differentiated into three regions: the middle storage, the haustorial micropylar, and the chalazal. Thickness of the integument is considerably added to by the endothelium and by its surrounding meristematic zone of the integument. There are two prominent wings on the dorsal and smaller ones on the lateral faces of the cochlidiospermous seed, its ventral face being occupied by a prominent basal body. A heavily cutinized envelope, formed by the endothelium, surrounds the ovoid storage endosperm. Testa of the seed is mainly composed of the thickened epidermis and the endothelium. The micropylar and the chalazal parts of the endosperm become tanniferous and serve to plug the two ends of the seed. Embryo is straight, and it bears two cotyledons and two plumular leaves.     

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SEED IN ANDROGRAPHIS SERPYLLIFOLIA

Mohan Ram , H. Y. (U. Delhi, India.) The development of the seed in Andrographis serpyllifolia. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(3) : 215—219. Illus. 1960.–Andrographis serpyllifolia, a member of the Acanthaceae, has an embryo sac with a bifurcated chalazal part. At the time of fertilization both synergids and antipodal cells disintegrate. Early in its development the endosperm is composed of 3 distinct parts: (1) a binucleate densely cytoplasmic chalazal haustorium; (2) a large binucleate micropylar haustorium; and (3) a central chamber which develops into the endosperm proper. The divisions in the central endosperm chamber are ab initio cellular. A few of the endosperm cells elongate enormously, ramify into the integument and destroy the surrounding cells. These cells have been termed secondary haustoria. Due to the unequal destruction of the integument, the endosperm assumes a ruminate condition. The mature seed is nearly naked because the seed coat is almost completely digested. The embryo has a long suspensor. The micropylar cells of the suspensor are hypertrophied and multinucleate. Contrary to Mauritzon's (1934) belief, the course of endosperm development is markedly different from that observed in Thunbergia. So far, albuminous seeds have been reported only in the subfamily Nelsonioideae. The present investigation provides a case of its occurrence in the Acanthoideae also.     

Embryo and Endosperm Development in Isatis Tinctoria L. and the Histochemical Study of Its Storage Reserve

The ovule is anatropous and bitegmic. The nuceIlar cells have disorganized except the chalazal proliferating tissue. The curved embryo sac comprises an egg apparatus and a central cell with two palar nuclei and wall ingrowths on its micropylar lateral wall. The antipodal cells disappear. Embryo development is of the Onagrad type. The filament suspensor grows to a length of 785 μm and degenerats at tarpedo embryo stage. The basal cell produces wall ingrowths on the micropylar end wall and lateral wall. The cells of mature embryo contain many globular protein bodies, 2.5–7.5 μm in diameter, composed of high concentration of protein and phytin, insoluble polysaccharide and lipid. The cells, except procambium, also contain many small starch grains. Some secretory cavities scattered in the ground tissue have liquidlike granules composed of protein, ploysacchaide and lipid. Endosperm development follows the nuclear pattern. At the late heart embryo stage, the endosperm around the embryo and the upper suspensor and the peripheral endosperm of the basal region of the U-shaped embryo sac becomes cellular. The endosperm at micropylar and chalazal ends remains free nuclear phase until the late bended cotyledon stage. Wall ingrowths at both micropylar and chalazal end wall and lateral wall of the embryo sac become more massive during endosperm development. Wall ingrowths also occur on the outer walls of the outer layer endosperm cells at both ends and lateral region of the embryo sac. When the embryo matures, many layers of chalazal endosperm ceils including 2–4 layers of transfer cells, a few of micropylar endosperm cells and 1–5 layers of peripheral endosperm cells are present. The nutrients of the embryo and endosperm at different stages of development are also discussed.     

Ephemeral and non-ephemeral structures during seed development in two Cytisus species (Papilionoideae,Leguminosae)

Abstract

Seed formation involves not only the embryo and endosperm development, but also the formation of a series of either ephemeral or non-ephemeral structures. In this article, we study several of those structures in Cytisus multiflorus and Cytisus striatus. The endosperm development is first nuclear and later cellular, except for the chalazal area, whose development is always nuclear. It generates, in the early developmental stages, a sac-like haustorium. As the seed develops, two structures seem to be closely related to nutrient mobilization to the embryo sac: on the one hand, a group of cells and a channel, located in the chalazal area and closely related between them and to the endosperm haustorium, which could be interpreted as a hypostase and on the other hand, an endothelium, derived from the inner integument, which later degenerates leaving no trace in the mature seed. All of these structures would be associated with the directionality of assimilates from ovule tissues to embryo sac. In mature seed and surrounding the embryo appears a unicellular layer of cells rich in proteins (aleurone layer), which is the origin of the outermost layer of the cellular endosperm. The seed coat is made up only of the outer integument.     

Embryo sac, endosperm, and seed of Nemophila (Boraginaceae) relative to taxonomy, with a remark on embryogeny in Pholistoma

Studies on embryology and seed morphology are complementary to molecular phylogenetics and of special value at the genus level. This paper discusses the delimitation and evolutionary relationships of genera within the tribe Hydrophylleae of the Boraginaceae. The seven Nemophila species characterized by a conspicuous seed appendage are similar in embryology and seed structure. The ovule is tenuinucellate and unitegmic with a meristematic tapetum. The embryo sac penetrating the nucellar apex is of the Polygonum type, has short-lived antipodal cells, and an embryo sac haustorium. The endosperm is cellular, producing two terminal endosperm haustoria, of which the chalazal has a lateral branch. Embryogeny is of the Chenopodiad type (as in Pholistoma). The seed coat is formed from the small-celled inner epidermis of the integument. The large-celled outer epidermis of the integument disintegrates into scattered cells. Seed pits evolve from irregularly placed inner epidermal cells of the integument. The chalazal part of the ovule produces a cucullus, that functions as an ant-attracting elaiosome. Those species of Nemophila with a conspicuous cucullus form a natural genus. Nemophila is most closely related to Pholistoma. The integumentary seed pits of Nemophila might have evolved from ovular seed pits similar to those in Pholistoma.     

GYNOECIUM AND DEVELOPMENT OF EMBRYO SAC,ENDOSPERM, AND SEED IN PHOLISTOMA (HYDROPHYLLACEAE) RELATIVE TO TAXONOMY

The objective of this research was to provide data for a taxonomic evaluation of Pholistoma and for a later survey of evolutionary morphology within the tribe Hydrophylleae. The unilocular ovary bears specialized unicellular prickles. Ovary and capsule wall consist of five or seven cell layers, of which three develop thickened walls for protection and dehiscence. Two parietal placentae enlarge to fill the entire locule. The four to eight ovules per ovary, some of which degenerate, are irregularly ventral and half-epitropous to half-hypotropous. Each ovule is tenuinucellate, unitegmic, and anatropous with a feeble vascular strand. A large amount of ovular parenchyma is produced from two meristems, one of which is the integumentary tapetum. Cells of the ovular epidermis grow into giant cells, each with a tubular portion penetrating deep into the seed interior, thereby producing a most unusual seed coat. The embryo sac is of the Polygonum type, the embryo of the Onagrad type. The endosperm is cellular with a micropylar and a chalazal endosperm haustorium. Both haustoria produce lateral branches. The mature endosperm is porously pitted, due to the giant cells of the testa. Great similarity between the three Pholistoma species, and in particular the presence in all species of two lateral haustorium branches, of gigantic, funnel-shaped epidermal cells, and of a porously pitted endosperm, strongly supports the notion that these three species constitute a natural entity.     

高山红景天胚胎学研究

高山红景天(Rhodiola sachalinensis A.Bor.)具8个雄蕊,每个雄蕊有4个花粉囊。小孢子母细胞减数分裂时,胞质分裂为同时型。形成的四分体为四面体形。花药壁由表皮、药室内壁、二层中层和绒毡层五层细胞组成,其发育方式为基本型。腺质型绒毡层,有些绒毡层细胞分裂形成不规则双层,少数细胞双核。二细胞型花粉。雌蕊由4心皮组成。边缘胎座,倒生胚珠,双珠被,厚珠心,胚珠发育中形成珠心喙。大孢子四分体线形或T -形,合点大孢子具功能。胚囊发育为蓼型。成熟胚囊中,卵细胞核、助细胞核均位于细胞的合点端,珠孔端具液泡;极核融合为次生核,并位于卵细胞合点端附近; 3个反足细胞退化。双受精属于有丝分裂前配子融合类型。胚的发育为石竹型;基细胞侵入珠孔端,形成囊状吸器。细胞型胚乳;初生胚乳核分裂形成两个细胞,其珠孔端的细胞发育成胚乳本体,合点端的细胞直接发育成具一单核的合点吸器。     

蚕豆胚珠发育过程中淀粉动态的观察

蚕豆胚珠发育过程中淀粉动态变化如下:1.发育早期,整个胚珠中未见淀粉粒。其后首先在合点区出现淀粉,而后从合点向珠孔逐渐扩大分布范围。2.珠心和内、外珠被中均含有淀粉粒,尤以内珠被的淀粉增长迅速,数量多、个体大。受精后,内珠被解体,淀粉出现在外珠被细胞中,推测营养物质可通过整个胚囊表面进入其中。3.合点与胚囊之间的珠心细胞特化或长形。可能有助于营养物质进入胚囊。4.功能大孢子中贮存丰富的淀粉粒,它和珠心细胞一起是胚囊发育时的营养来源。5.卵细胞受精后,所含淀粉粒的数量和大小明显增长,随着合子和胚细胞的分裂,其中贮存的淀粉逐渐被消耗,到多细胞球形胚时完全消失。6.胚乳核周围始终未出现淀粉粒。7.胚器官分化之后,子叶和胚轴等处逐渐出现淀粉粒,其中生长活跃的结构如生长点、维管束等不贮存淀粉。8.子叶中的淀粉粒含量迅速增加,颗粒特大,是种子内营养物质的最终贮存场所。     

石香薷（唇形科）的胚胎学研究

石香薷(Mosla chinensis Buch.-Ham.ex Maxim.)花药壁发育属双子叶型。花药具4个小孢子囊;腺质绒毡层,细胞具2～4核,有3至数个核仁;初生造孢细胞直接行小孢子母细胞的功能,在小孢子囊中成单列。花粉母细胞减数分裂后胞质分裂为同时型;小孢子四分体呈四面体形,也有左右对称形,成熟花粉具2细胞。胚珠倒生,单珠被,薄珠心,大孢子四分体线形排列,功能性大孢子位于合点端,少数为合点端第二个细胞。胚囊发育属蓼型,珠孔区近卵圆形,比合点区稍短,合点区较狭窄。胚胎发生属柳叶菜型。细胞型胚乳,珠孔吸器为单孢3核,合点吸器为单孢2核。种子无胚乳,种皮由珠被发育。石香薷雌雄配子体的发育、胚胎发生及胚乳形成,与紫苏属的Perilla ocimoides几乎完全一致。不同点仅在于石香薷在2-细胞花粉时,药室内壁细胞切向伸长,壁尚未发生纤维状加厚(P.ocimoides药室内壁细胞径向伸长,胞壁纤维状加厚),珠孔吸器为单孢3核(P.ocimoides为单孢4核)。胚胎学显示石荠苎属与紫苏属有密切的亲缘关系。     

竹节参雌配子体发育的研究

本文报道了竹节参(Panax japonicus C.A.Mey)雌配子体(胚囊)的发育过程。竹节参大孢子母细胞减数分裂产生线形排列的大孢子四分体。胚囊发育属蓼型,由合点端大孢子发育而成。游离核胚囊时期,胚囊珠孔端的细胞器种类和数量都较胚囊合点端多;胚囊合点端相邻的珠被细胞中有含淀粉粒的小质体,与胚囊珠孔端相邻的退化中的非功能大孢子中则有含淀粉粒的大质体和大类脂体。成熟胚囊中,反足细胞较早退化;极核融合成次生核;卵细胞高度液泡化,细胞器数量较少;助细胞则有丰富的细胞器和发达的丝状器。PAS反应表明,受精前的成熟胚囊中积累淀粉粒。次生核受精后,很快分裂产生胚乳游离核,到几十至数百个核时形成胚乳细胞。卵细胞受精后则要经过较长的休眠期。     

中国特有河口异叶苣苔（苦苣苔科）胚胎学研究

对河口异叶苣苔的胚胎学观察旨在为该属的系统学研究提供参考。该种的花药药壁由表皮、药室内壁、中岐和绒层４层细胞组成。２－３－核细胞在绒毡层频繁出现。胚珠属倒生,单珠被和薄珠心。胚囊发育属蓼型。该种胚囊发中的双大孢子母细胞现象,分别为并列和前后排列型。前者发育至双并列四分体,后者发育到呈棱形的４个大孢子。胚乳的发育属细胞型。并在合点端和珠也端分别具有吸器。珠孔吸器发育早期为单核、２－细胞、后期为两核、２－细胞或单核、４－细胞,有时为多细胞,并在发育过程中向外伸长形成外珠孔。合点吸器为两核。由于合点吸器和珠孔吸器的活动,位于珠被最外层细胞的珠和被绒毡层之间的２－３层细胞逐渐解体和被吸收,胚的发生和发育属柳叶菜型,在胚的发育过程中,胚乳几乎被吸收耗尽,仅利下一层胚乳细胞紧贴内种皮,成熟种子的种皮由珠被最外层细胞和珠被绒毡层发育而来,本文对河口异叶苣苔的胚胎发育过程员苦苣苔科其它类群进行了广泛的比较和讨论。     

ADVENTIVE EMBRYOGENESIS IN CITRUS (RUTACEAE) II. POSTFERTILIZATION DEVELOPMENT

Cytological and histological studies on postfertilization development of ovules were carried out in six facultatively apomictic Citrus cultivars. At the time of anthesis, adventive embryo initial cells (AEICs) were detected mainly in the cell layers of the nucellus around the chalazal half of the embryo sac. During the approximately 40 days rest period of the AEICs after fertilization, rapid cell division and enlargement in the endosperm and the chalazal half of the nucellus resulted in the split of AEICs into several separated areas forming the micropylar, lateral and chalazal islands surrounding the enlarging embryo sac. Both in diploid seeds with triploid endosperm and triploid seeds with pentaploid endosperm, the AEICs located in the micropylar half successfully developed into adventive embryos. In diploid seeds, almost all AEICs located in the chalazal half did not develop beyond the initial-celled stage, while in the triploid seeds, those located in the chalazal half occasionally developed into cotyledonary embryos. In seeds with aborted endosperm, the AEICs located in the chalazal half often developed into cotyledonary embryos. The chalazal expiants from normal seeds produced a large number of embryos in vitro. Four results can be summarized from these studies on adventive embryogenesis as follows: 1) All AEICs are initiated prior to anthesis. 2) Whether or not the AEICs successfully developed into adventive embryos is dependent upon their position in the seed. 3) The farther the AEICs are located from the micropylar end, the more adventive embryogenesis is suppressed by endosperm. 4) The degree of adventive embryogenesis in the chalazal half is affected by time and extent of malfunction of the endosperm. Under natural conditions, these regulatory systems of adventive embryogenesis contribute to high production of zygotic seedlings in apomictic Citrus species and cultivars.     

Seed fertilization, development, and germination in Hydatellaceae (Nymphaeales): Implications for endosperm evolution in early angiosperms

New data on endosperm development in the early-divergent angiosperm Trithuria (Hydatellaceae) indicate that double fertilization results in formation of cellularized micropylar and unicellular chalazal domains with contrasting ontogenetic trajectories, as in waterlilies. The micropylar domain ultimately forms the cellular endosperm in the dispersed seed. The chalazal domain forms a single-celled haustorium with a large nucleus; this haustorium ultimately degenerates to form a space in the dispersed seed, similar to the chalazal endosperm haustorium of waterlilies. The endosperm condition in Trithuria and waterlilies resembles the helobial condition that characterizes some monocots, but contrasts with Amborella and Illicium, in which most of the mature endosperm is formed from the chalazal domain. The precise location of the primary endosperm nucleus governs the relative sizes of the chalazal and micropylar domains, but not their subsequent developmental trajectories. The unusual tissue layer surrounding the bilobed cotyledonary sheath in seedlings of some species of Trithuria is a belt of persistent endosperm, comparable with that of some other early-divergent angiosperms with a well-developed perisperm, such as Saururaceae and Piperaceae. The endosperm of Trithuria is limited in size and storage capacity but relatively persistent.     

Development of Embryo and Endosperm and Nutrient Accumulation in Vigna sesquipedalis (L.) Fruwirth

The structure of embryo sac, fertilization and development of embryo and endosperm in Vigina sesquipedalis (L.) Fruwirth were investigated. Pollization occures 7–10h before anthesis, and fertilization is completed 10 h after anthesis. After fertilization, wall ingrowths are formed at the micropylar and chalazal ends of the embryo sac. Embryo development conforms to the Onagrad type, and passes through 2 or more celled proembryo, long stick-shaped, globular, heart shaped, torpedo, young embryo, growing and enlarging embryo and mature embryo. Wall ingrowths are formed on the walls of basal cells and outer walls of the cells at basal region of suspenser. The suspensor remains as the seed reaches maturity. The starch grains accumulate in the cells of cotyledons by 9–16 days after anthesis, and proteins accumulate by 12–18 days after. The endosperm development follows the nuclear type. The endosperm ceils form at the micropylar end, and remain free nuclear phase at chalazal end. The outer cells are transfer cells. Those cells at the micropylar end form folded cells with wall ingrowths. At heartembryo stage, the endosperm begins to degenerate and disintegrates before the embryo matures.