Location and chemical composition of semi-permeable layer of forage seeds

The presence of the semi-permeable layer is determined in Roegneria nutans (Keng.) Keng, Achnatherum inebrians (Hance.) Keng, Hordeum vulgare var. nudum Hook. f., Triticale , Festuca sinensis Keng., and Bromus inermis Leyss. using the lanthanum nitrate tracer method, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. It was an amorphous membranous structure firmly attached on the external portion of the seed coat. The diversified chemical composition of the semi-permeable layer of the species studied is also analyzed by histochemical staining. R. nutans , A. inebrians , H. vulgare var. nudum , and Triticale were found to contain lipids in the semi-permeable layer. F . sinensis had pectin whereas B. inermis has cellulose in the said layer. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v42i1.15802 Bangladesh J. Bot. 42 (1): 23-29, 2013 (June)