Biochemical, histochemical and ultrastructural characterization of Centrolobium robustum (Fabaceae) seeds

Abstract

Centrolobium robustum seed coat is made up of an external layer of macrosclereids and an internal layer of osteosclereids, followed by a layer of dead cells. The endosperm is closely united to the seed coat and is made up of up to three layers of living cells rich in lipid and protein bodies. All the embryonic cells that form the different tissues of the cotyledons and embryonic axis, including the apical meristematic tissues, are storage tissues since they accumulate mainly lipids and proteins, in the form of lipid and protein bodies, water-soluble polysaccharides, and starch. In the seed coat, lignin, simple phenols and hydrolysable tannins were chemically detected.