Seed shape in model legumes: approximation by a cardioid reveals differences in ethylene insensitive mutants of Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula.
Seed shape in the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula is described. Based in previous work with Arabidopsis, the outline of the longitudinal sections of seeds is compared with a cardioid curve. L. japonicus seeds adjust well to an unmodified cardioid, whereas accurate adjustment in M. truncatula is obtained by the simple transformation of scaling the vertical axis by a factor equal to the Golden Ratio. Adjustments of seed shape measurements with simple geometrical forms are essential tools for the statistical analysis of variations in seed shape under different conditions or in mutants. The efficiency of the adjustment to a cardioid in the model plants suggests that seed morphology may be related to genome complexity. Seeds of ethylene insensitive mutants present differences in size and shape as well as altered responses to imbibition. The biological implication and meaning of these relationships are discussed.
IRNASA - CSIC, Salamanca, Apartado 257, 37080 Salamanca, Spain. ecervant@usal.es
Emilio
E
Cervantes
José Javier
JJ
Martín
Pick Kuen
PK
Chan
Peter M
PM
Gresshoff
Ángel
Á
Tocino
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003890:Desiccation; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005838:Genotype; D000070116:Lotus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D046913:Medicago truncatula / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects
D005030:Ethylenes; C036216:ethylene