SEED ULTRASTRUCTURE OF 6 HORTICULTURAL SPECIES IN RELATION TO THEIR GERMINATION CAPACITY

An attempt was made to relate germination capacity to seed ultrastruct ure of some horticultural species. The species showed remarkable varia tions in seed surface structure testa thickness, quantity of starch an d protein granules and lipid contents which was related to the percent age of germination. The results suggest that there is a direct relatio n between testa thickness and germination time and inversely with the germination percentage. Late germination might be related with high li pid content and less starch granules in the cotyledon.