Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Scrophulariaceae
Example:
Scrophularia californica
1. Moistening: Soak in water 18 hr.
2. Preparation after moistening:
a. Cut seed longitudinally through the seed coat and into the nutritive tissue along the entire
length near the midsection.
b. Cut seed longitudinally through the seed coat and into the nutritive tissue near the midsection
of the distal half.
c. Cut seed longitudinally the entire length through the midsection. Adjust the slope of the cut to
avoid cutting into the embryonic axis at the basal end while cutting full depth at the distal end.
d. Remove distal end of the radicle, including a fragment of the nutritive tissue.
3. Staining time: 18-24 hr.
4. Preparation for evaluation: Expose the embryo and the adjoining nutritive tissue by spreading the
cut surfaces suficiently to expose the desired tissue.
5. Evaluation of viable seeds: Embryo must be completely stained. Nutritive storage tissue apart
from embryo completely stained.
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophularia californica
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
Viable Seed
Non-Viable Seed
(1) Entire embryo evenly stained, and (2)
small area of the endosperm unstained.
(1) Unstained radicle, and (2) unstained
endosperm.
