View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
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Germination physiology<br />
Figure 4.4: Scanning electron micrographs <strong>of</strong> the micropylar regions <strong>of</strong> seeds <strong>of</strong> Romulea<br />
camerooniana (A); R. diversiformis (B); R. flava (C); R. leipoldtii (D); R. minutiflora (E); R.<br />
monadelpha (F); R. rosea (G) and R. sabulosa (H). Horizontal bar = 20 µm.<br />
The size and shape <strong>of</strong> seeds <strong>of</strong> different Romulea species showed large variations<br />
as seen in Figure 4.2. Both these parameters have a significant influence on water<br />
imbibition. R. rosea had the roughest seed surface, followed by R. leipoldtii and R.<br />
diversiformis (Figure 4.3). The seed surface <strong>of</strong> R. flava appears to be the smoothest,<br />
followed by R. sabulosa and R. minutiflora. In Romulea species, the sizes <strong>of</strong> the<br />
micropylar region are correlated to seed size with R. monadelpha and R.<br />
diversiformis having the largest micropylar regions (Figure 4.4). The micropylar<br />
regions <strong>of</strong> R. minutiflora and R. rosea appear more membranous than those <strong>of</strong> other<br />
species. The micropylar region <strong>of</strong> R. sabulosa seeds appears to be the densest,<br />
followed by R. camerooniana.<br />
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