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Development of tannin vacuoles in chalaza and seed coat of barley in relation to early chalazal necrosis in the seg1 mutant

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Abstract

Structural development of grain tissues of maternal origin in normal and seg1 barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Betzes) was examined using light and electron microscopy. Chalaza and seedcoat cells of normal grains developed prominent tannin vacuoles which persisted throughout the grain-filling period. Tannins were present in the same tissues of seg1, but no large central vacuoles developed. Instead, the chalaza and nucellar projection degenerated and were crushed, presumably terminating sugar flow and causing formation of shrunken grains (35–55% normal dry weight). Tannins were localized using various histochemical stains. Extracts of chalaza and adjacent tissues contained proanthocyanidins which yielded delphinidin and cyanidin upon hydrolysis in boiling HCl. We suggest that the basis of the seg1 phenotype may be abnormal compartmentation of tannins causing precipitation of cytoplasmic proteins and early death of chalazal cells.

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Abbreviations

FAA:

Formalin-acetic acid-ethanol

PAS:

periodic acid Schiffs reagent

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, WI, USA

    Frederick C. Felker

  2. Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, WI, USA

    Oliver E. Nelson

  3. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, WI, USA

    David M. Peterson

Authors
  1. Frederick C. Felker
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  2. David M. Peterson
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  3. Oliver E. Nelson
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Felker, F.C., Peterson, D.M. & Nelson, O.E. Development of tannin vacuoles in chalaza and seed coat of barley in relation to early chalazal necrosis in the seg1 mutant. Planta 161, 540–549 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407087

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407087

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