STUDIES ON THE SEED OF BANANA. II. THE ANATOMY AND MORPHOLOGY OF THE SEEDLING OF MUSA BALBISIANA

Abstract

McGahan, Merritt W. (Central Research Labs., United Fruit Co., Norwood, Massachusetts.) Studies on the seed of banana. II. The anatomy and morphology of the seedling of Musa balbisiana. Amer. Jour. Bot. 48(7): 630–637. Illus. 1961.—The first external evidence of germination of the seed of Musa balbisiana is the displacement of the micropylar plug by the elongation of the hypocotyl‐radicle axis. As the hypocotyl and epicotyl emerge from the micropylar collar, the seminal adventitious roots become apparent and the cotyledonary sheath surrounding the epicotyl emerges as a coleoptile‐like structure. Subsequent growth results in the elongation of the first leaves beyond the cotyledonary sheath and the rapid elongation of the adventitious root system. The vascular transition occurs between the cotyledon and the radicle. The sheath is considered to be only analogous to the coleoptile of the grasses.