title: Signalling events regulating seed coat development.
abstract: The evolution of seeds was a major reason for the rise of angiosperms to ecological dominance. Seeds of angiosperms are composed of three main structures: the embryo, which will give rise to the next generation; the endosperm, a nurturing tissue whose main function is to deliver nutrients from the mother plant to the embryo; and the seed coat (or testa), a tissue that is derived from the maternal integuments and which provides support and protection to the growing embryo. All three seed components need to exchange signals to ensure co-ordinated growth and development. The present review discusses the structure of the seed coat, its interaction with the endosperm, and bidirectional signalling events between endosperm and seed coat that co-ordinate growth of both tissues. Angiosperm seeds are not only of evolutionary significance, but also of major agronomic importance, demanding a thorough understanding of the events governing seed growth and development.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center of Plant Biology, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Duarte D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: *Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center of Plant Biology, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Köhler
mesh_terms: D056625:Endosperm / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins