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EFFECT OF DESICCATION AND SCARIFICATION ON THE PERMEABILITY AND STRUCTURE OF THE SEED COAT OF CUSCUTA CAMPESTRIS
Author(s) -
Hutchison James M.,
Ashton Floyd M.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1979.tb06191.x
Subject(s) - scarification , desiccation , biology , dormancy , coat , cuscuta , botany , overwintering , palisade cell , convolvulaceae , sandpaper , germination , ecology , materials science , metallurgy
Changes occurring within the seed coat of Cuscuta campestris Yunkr. during desiccation were correlated with a decrease in germinability. Germination initially increased as the embryo matured, but then decreased as the testa dried. Completion of macrosclereid development signaled the onset of dormancy. Mechanical scarification with sandpaper or immersion in concentrated H 2 SO 4 broke dormancy. The impermeable layer is a region above the light line and at the junction of the hypodermis and the palisade cell layers. This region appeared to be deposited during desiccation of the hypodermis. Overwintering or a period of cold storage also broke dormancy. The change in permeability was found throughout the testa rather than in a specific area.