Figure 1.

Time Course of Endosperm Cap Weakening and Endosperm Rupture of L. sativum FR1 and the Effect of ABA.

(A) Endosperm cap weakening and rupture of seeds incubated without (CON) or with 10 μM ABA added to the medium in continuous light at 18°C. Endosperm cap weakening was determined by measuring tissue resistance by the puncture force method at the times indicated. The time points (after the start of imbibition) at which tissues were dissected for the microarrays are indicated in gray. All seeds selected for the puncture force measurements and for the microarrays had completed testa rupture but intact endosperm caps. ABA did not affect testa rupture.

(B) The CON and ABA seed populations showed a very similar relationship between decreasing endosperm cap puncture force and increasing percentage of seeds showing endosperm rupture. Mean values ± se of 3 × 50 seeds for the endosperm rupture [%] and at least 50 endosperm caps for the puncture force (mN) measurements are presented.