EMBRYOLOGY OF CYMBIDIUM-SINENSE - EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

Embryo development in Cymbidium sinense is characterized by two consec utive oblique divisions resulting in the formation of a four-celled em bryo. Three of the four cells towards the micropyle begin to vacuolate while the remaining cell located at the terminus remains cytoplasmic. The three cells towards the base become suspensor cells, and they con tinue to elongate and expand by the process of vacuolation. The termin al cytoplasmic cell continues to divide and give rise to the embryo pr oper and additional suspensor cells. Nile red staining indicates the a bsence of cuticular material in the walls of the suspensor cells. A po sitive reaction towards nile red can be detected in the embryo proper after periclinal divisions have ceased in the surface layer. In the ma ture embryo, storage protein and lipid are present in the cells of the embryo proper. (C) 1996 Annals of Botany Company