The Developmental Change of Cell Structures Stained by Iron-Hematoxylin in the Cotyledon Areole of Leguminosae

Abstract

Change of cell structures stained by iron-hematoxylin in cotyledon areole (= CA) cells was observed in comparison with those structures in CA surrounding cells during seed germination and seedling development in six species of Leguminosae, i.e., Carmichaelia exsul, Glycine max, Goodia lotifolia, Melilotus altissima, Pisum sativum, and Tadehagi triquetrum ssp. pseudotriquetrum. Three patterns were recognized in the process of the change: (1) the stained structures of CA cells are different from those in CA surrounding cells throughout seed germination (Goodia lotifolia and Pisum sativum); (2) the difference is indistinct at the beginning of the germination and becomes distinct when rooting (Carmichaelia exsul and Glycine max); (3) the difference is indistinct throughout the germination (Melilotus altissima and Tadehagi triquetrum ssp. pseudotriquetrum). After unfolding of cotyledons in seedlings, most of the structures stained by iron-hematoxylin were lost, and the differences between CA cells and their surrounding cells became obscure in any cases.