| Abstract: | Ultrastructural observations on naturally dispersed and dehydratedseeds of Euonymus europaea L. were performed. It was shown thatduring the culture of isolated embryos at 25 ?C for 7 d thematuration of protein bodies continued; the initial juvenileform (single protein body per cell with dispersed contents)was developing into a more advanced form (single body splitto form several sub-units with condensed contents). Parallelbiochemical determinations pointed to an increase in insolubleprotein levels. There were no changes in other storage organelles,lipid bodies, either in the fine structure or in the level oftriacylglycerols. Deterioration of cellular membranes (in mitochondria,proplastids and protein bodies) similar to that described forageing was observed in cells at the periphery of the embryonicaxis. It is concluded that during the culture of E. europaeaembryos the maturation programme of development in protein bodiesis being continued. Key words: Embryonic axis, storage protein and lipid body, maturation |
