STUDIES ON THE SEED OF BANANA. I. ANATOMY OF THE SEED AND EMBRYO OF MUSA BALBISIANA

Mc Gahan , Merritt W. (United Fruit Co., Norwood, Mass.) Studies on the seed of banana. I. Anatomy of the seed and embryo of Musa balbisiana. Amer. Jour. Bot. 48(3): 230–238. Illus. 1961.—The seed coat of Musa balbisiana Colla consists of a relatively thick outer integument and a 2–cell-layered inner integument. The entire seed coat is sclerified, but routine tests for lignin are negative. Within the outer integument there is a zone of unusual sclereids tentatively termed “multiluminate.” Between the inner integument and the remnants of the nucellus is a cuticle 10–12 μ thick. The micropylar plug and collar are typical of the genus. The chalazal mass is an annular region of gelatinous cells. The mature embryo is comprised of a massive cotyledon, an epicotyl with 1 leaf primordium, a primary root primordium, and several adventitious root primordia. Procambium is well developed, but no mature vascular elements are present in the embryo.