Seed coat ultrastructure of hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties of Vicia sativa


Büyükkartal H. N., Çölgeçen H., Pınar N. M., Erdoǧan N.

Turkish Journal of Botany, vol.37, no.2, pp.270-275, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 37 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/bot-1111-6
  • Journal Name: Turkish Journal of Botany
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.270-275
  • Keywords: Seed coat, Ultrastructure, Vicia sativa
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The mature seed coat structure in hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties of Vicia sativa L. was examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy to investigate differentiation in cytological and morphological features between these varieties. The outer layer of the seed coats was composed of macrosclereid (Malpighian) cells in the hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties of Vicia sativa. The walls of the macrosclereid cells were thickened, and the cell vacuoles were filled with tannin. The cytoplasm of the macrosclereids contained small- and large-sized vacuoles and ribosomes, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum. Under this layer there was a hypodermal layer composed of osteosclereids separated by large intercellular spaces. The bottom layer consisted of parenchyma cells. Thin-walled parenchyma cells were filled with amyloplasts that contained large starch grains, protein bodies, and a few organelles. Seed size and colour are important characteristics for distinguishing between hard-seeded and soft-seeded varieties. The hard seeds of Vicia sativa are smaller than the soft seeds. © TÜBİTAK.