FIGURE 3.

Cellular basis of seed shattering in crops. In soybeans, the loss of pod dehiscence is caused by the excessive lignification of the fiber cap cells (FCCs) and cell wall modification of the inner sclerenchyma cells in the pod valves (upper panel). The middle cartoon of the upper panel shows the transverse section of the pod ventral sutures with the yellow box shows the enlarged photo of the FCC and abscission layer. The loss of fruit shedding and seed shattering are due to the malfunction of the abscission zone (AZ) development of the pedicles (lower panel). The cartoon in the middle represents a transversal section of the AZ region as boxed in tomato, sorghum, and rice; genes with possible functional relationships that are involved in the AZ development in respective species are shown. The positive relationships between genes were shown by blue arrows. The figures and cartoons are not to scale.