Histology of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) kernel affected by brown spots in kernel cavity physiopathy

Abstract

Cotyledon tissue changes have been studied during hazelnut cv. Negret kernel growth in order to define the developmentalsteps of a seed alteration called «brown spots in kernel cavity», an inner brown cavity that devalues the kernel.Seed histology has been studied by both light and scanning electron microscopy. The affected zone shows emptycells while increasing suberization can be observed in limiting cells between affected and healthy zones. The brownspots in kernel cavity cells loose their isodiametric shape until tissue is destroyed by lysis and the inner cavity is formed.