Morphological characterization of seeds of three A

Authors: Kim N Hamilton Sarah E Ashmore Rod A Drew

Publish Date: 2007/09/25

Volume: 55, Issue: 5, Pages: 683-693

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Abstract

The comparative morphology of the seeds of three Australian Citrus species C australasica C inodora and C garrawayi was studied Their seed characteristics were broadly similar to those of the cultivated species of the genus when observed under light and scanning electron microscopy Citrus garrawayi differed in seed shape rounded to triangular and seed coat morphology ie thicker with longer epidermal protrusions from C australasica and C inodora rounded surface with flat underside in shape The welldeveloped minute epidermal protrusions on the seed coat of C garrawayi were more similar to those in the cultivated species C × sinensis and C × aurantium In contrast the surface topography of C australasica and C inodora seeds was more like that of the cultivated species C × aurantifolia and C × limon Seed morphology especially surface topography was found to be a useful tool for taxonomic identification in Australian wild citrusWe gratefully thank Malcolm Smith QDPI Roger Goebel QPDI and Phil Boyle BBG for kindly donating fruits and Dr Deb Stenzel AEMF for training in Scanning Electron Microscopy Kim Hamilton received part funding from the Millennium Seed Bank Project Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the BioversityACIAR project ‘Development of Advanced Technologies for the Conservation of Tropical Fruits’

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