Plant Diversity ›› 2013, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 33-40.DOI: 10.7677/ynzwyj201312049

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The Seed Development of Three Paphiopedilum Species in Relation to Asymbiotic Germination

 ZHANG  Juan-Juan-1、2, YAN  Ning-1, HU  Hong-1     

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
    Kunming 650201, China; 2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2012-04-09 Online:2013-01-25 Published:2012-08-17

Abstract:

There is an optimum time for the asymbiotic germination of some species in Orchidaceae. A better understanding of the seed development would provide information for the germination events. The relationship between asymbiotic germination rate and the anatomical features in seed development of three Paphiopedilum species was studied. The highest frequency of seed germination was obtained when the embryo began to take an ellipsoidal shape, yet the seed coat had not dehydrated, and the suspensor cells were still present. After that, the parenchyma cell of the seed coat began to dehydrate and lignin substances accumulated, therefore lead to the down shift of the permeability of the seed coat, which maybe the main obstacles for the germination of the mature seeds of the Paphiopedilum species.

Key words: Paphiopedilum, Seed development, Anatomy, Asymbiotic germination

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