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THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF COTYLEDONARY TISSUE FROM GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L. SEEDS
1Seed Protein Pioneering Research Laboratory, Southern Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Dry cottonseed cells retain ultrastructural integrity, including membranes of plastids, mitochondria, and nuclei, even after prolonged dry storage. This challenges previous light microscopy findings suggesting their absence in desiccated seeds.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Cell biology
- Seed physiology
Background:
- Quiescent seeds undergo extreme desiccation.
- Previous light microscopy suggested loss of cellular structures in dry seeds.
- Ultrastructural integrity of desiccated seed cells is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural preservation of cottonseed cells during dry storage.
- To compare electron microscopy findings with previous light microscopy observations.
- To characterize the state of organelles and storage materials in quiescent cottonseed.
Main Methods:
- Storage of quiescent cottonseeds under dry, anaerobic conditions for over a year.
- Transmission electron microscopy of cotyledon tissue cells.
- Ultrastructural analysis of plastids, mitochondria, nuclei, and storage components.
Main Results:
- Cottonseed cells maintained ultrastructural similarity to hydrated cells.
- Plastids, mitochondria, and nuclei exhibited normal double membranes despite extreme desiccation.
- Storage proteins and oils were observed within single-membraned vacuolar areas.
- Dictyosomes were not observed in spongy parenchyma cells.
Conclusions:
- Cottonseed cells possess remarkable ultrastructural resilience to prolonged desiccation.
- Electron microscopy reveals the presence of intact organelles previously thought to be absent in dry seeds.
- The observed ultrastructure supports the viability of quiescent cottonseed cells for germination.
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