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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #106413
Title: THE ANATOMY OF THE SOYBEAN POD

Author
item Yaklich, Robert
item Wergin, William
item Murphy, Charles - Charlie

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The pod wall of the soybean carpel was examined by SEM and TEM. The exocarp consists of a single layer of epidermal cells containing trichomes, a cuticle, and stomates, and a single layer of fusiform hypodermal cells with thick, sclerified walls. The mesocarp consists of 10 to 14 rows of parenchyma cells. The endocarp consists of two types of sclerenchyma cells, aerenchyma, and an inner epidermis of parenchyma cells. The cell walls were the most conspicuous structures of the pericarp, and the vacuole was the most prominent organelle. Chloroplasts were found in all of the cell types during development. The different cell types in the carpel were differentiated early in development and further growth consisted of cell maturation. The results suggest that the fine structure of the carpel cells are typical of plant cells with similar function.