The Role of the Internal Structure of Fabaceae Seeds in the Processes of Dormancy and Germination

Abstract

The germination processes of Fabaceae seeds are well studied based on physiological parameters. However, in many cases, especially in wild seeds, there is a predominance of dormancy processes that must be reversed to finally produce germination, generally applying scarification processes. In the anatomical studies of seeds, a certain conforma-tion of the structure of the cover is appreciated, with a predominance of sclerenchy-matic tissues and waxy covers that are the cause of the difficulty of the entry of water to produce the imbibition of the seed. Mechanical or chemical scarifications are usually recommended to produce effective scarification. The characterization of the anatomical details of the seed coat allows us to predict the appropriate scarification technique with which optimal seed germination can be obtained.