Morphology and Anatomy of Physical Dormancy in Ipomoea lacunosa: Identification of the Water Gap in Seeds of Convolvulaceae (Solanales)

摘要

Background and AimsConvolvulaceae is the most advanced plant family (asterid clade) that produces seeds with physical dormancy (water-impermeable seed coat). There are several different opinions about the nature of the specialized structure (‘water gap’) in the seed coat through which water initially enters seeds of Convolvulaceae, but none of them has been documented clearly. The primary aim of the study was to identify the water gap in seeds of Ipomoea lacunosa (Convolvulaceae) and to describe its morphology, anatomy and function.