ANATOMY AND ONTOGENY OF ASTRAGALUS REMOTIJUGUS BOISS. & HOHEN. SEED

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the anatomy and ontogeny of Astragalus remotijugus Boiss. & Hohen. seed using the usual techniques. The ovules are campilotropous, crassinucelate, and bitegmic. The nucellus cells disappear during an early stage of development. The following processes occur during integument development: anticlinal divisions and formation of palisade cells in the exotesta; predominantly periclinal divisions and cell expansion in the mesotesta; and endotesta differentiates in to an endothelium layer with thick and cubic in shape cells. The primary endosperm nucleus divides before the zygote nucleus, forming a nuclear endosperm. Endosperm cellularization begins when the embryo has developed the late globular stage. The embryological characters of A. remotijugus Boiss. & Hohen. are compared with other species of Fabaceae and those of other species of Astragalus. The remarked characteristic of the embryo was presence large suspensor with six columns of cells, and its large haustorial cells. Another difference in the development of A. remotijugus Boiss. & Hohen. seed was presence additional embryo at the globular stage that probably was developed from suspensor cells.

Keywords

• embryogenesis
• Fabaceae
• polyembryony
• seed coat