Structural Changes and Histochemical Study of Endosperm on Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer during Embryo Development

인삼(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) 종자의 배발달에 따른 배유의 구조변화 및 조직화학적 연구

Structural changes of the endosperm of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer from fertilization to germination were investigated by light microscope. The endosperm of the ginseng seed is cellular type. Since endosperm cells adjacent embryo continuously breakdown and disappear with the elongation of embryo, the real of endosperm is gradually decreased. As the anatropous ovules of immature seed with green seed coat developes more and more, ovary cells adjacent ovary cavity become abundant by the periclinal division, their size is decreased, hypotrophy of cell wall discern, and they are gradually differentiated in seed coat. Though embryo responds strongly to basic dye at the stage of completion of endosperm formation, tissue of endosperm responds to acidic dye positively Cell wall of embryo and endosperm are composed of primary cell wall not lignified. Endosperm cells adjacent embryo begin to breakdown in the endosperm tissue of indehiscent seed before the beginning of the after-ripening. Dehiscent seed of which seed coat is opened through after-ripening represent the form as a seedling in the result of embryo developments with the formation of organs; radicle, cotyledon, plumule. Umbilifom layer represents strong positive response to the toluidine blue and the basic function. Umbiliform layer that endosperm cells breakdown and disappear is observed clearly at the periphery of the embryo cotylemon, while slightly at the periphery of the radicle.