Formation of Unique Placental Seed Capsules in the Maturation Process of the Tomato Fruit

Abstract

The morphological and anatomical study of the seed formation features in a juicy tomato fruit was carried out. The ovules, which form on the placenta, have been shown to be gradually enveloped by the protrusions of placental tissue that arises simultaneously with them. As a result of this process, each seed is enclosed in an individual capsule. These seed capsules have been shown in vivo to be airtight and air-filled. Tomato seeds, as has been shown in this study, develop inside these capsules until the full maturity of the fruit and do not come into contact with the detached and moldered cells of the placenta protrusions, which convert into a gel (pulp). Using scanning electron microscopy, it was possible to reveal the details of a ribbon-like “pubescence” formation of the tomato seed, as well as to understand the mechanism of cracking of the outer layer cells in the seed coat, associated with the detection of calcium oxalate crystals in these cells. The unique outer layer of the tomato seed coat seems to play the role of a scaffold that maintains a constant volume of the protective capsule.