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Fungal Penetration of Soybean Seed through Pores 1
Author(s) -
Hill H. J.,
West S. H.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1982.0011183x002200030041x
Subject(s) - coat , biology , mycelium , hypha , viral tegument , palisade cell , penetration (warfare) , scanning electron microscope , germination , botany , hilum (anatomy) , composite material , materials science , anatomy , paleontology , operations research , virology , engineering
Mycelium of seed‐borne fungi have been postulated to enter the seed coat of soybeans [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] through seed coat defects and the hilum region. The objective of this study was to determine if fungal mycelia could also enter the seed via the naturally‐occurring pores on the seed coat surface. Using scanning electron microscopy, naturally occurring pores on the surface of the seed coat were observed as providing a means of entry into the seed. These pores were found to penetrate deeply into the palisade layer providing passage into the hourglass layer. Fungal hyphae were observed to extend into these pores. These pores, therefore, can provide a means of fungal entry without the presence of visible seed coat defects.