Morphology and stucture of wild apple (Malus silvestris Mill.).common pear (Pyrus cofnmunis L.) and Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb) Lindl. seeds

Abstract

The outer and inner structure of wild apple (<em>Malus silvestris</em> Mill.), common pear (<em>Pyrus communis</em> L.) and <em>Chaenomeles japonica</em> (Thunb.) Lindl. seeds was investigated. It was found that the outer structure exhibits good diagnostic features expressed in the first place in the relief of the seed coat and further in the arrangement and appearance of the site of attachment of the free end of the funiculus and the shape of the seeds. In ripe seeds there is, under the thick seed coat, an endosperm layer completely surrounding the embryo which has large cotyledons and a thick rootlet.