Structure and Function of the Haustorium in Palm Seed Germination

棕榈科(槟榔科)的成员，像大多数其他单子叶植物一样，有一个独特的器官，吸器，它在种子萌发和幼苗形成过程中发挥作用。它是子叶的远端部分，留在种子内，随着胚乳的退化而生长。本项目(以结构为重点)采用多学科的方法来阐明吸器的功能以及吸器和胚乳组织之间的相互作用。棕榈科吸器和胚乳组织相互作用的结构和功能方面将通过1)研究椰子(Cocos Nucifera)种子萌发过程中种子结构和发育变化，2)利用化学和物理固定条件观察吸器磷酸盐颗粒的吸收和发育及其结构特征，3)利用酶分析和切片定位技术来确定水解酶产生的位置和控制。德梅森博士正在研究的植物在经济和科学上都很重要，但人们对它们知之甚少。这些研究将有助于更好地了解棕榈树种子萌发过程以及吸器在萌发中的作用。

Members of the palm family (Arecaceae), like most other monocotyledons, have a unique organ, the haustorium, which functions during germination and seedling establishment. It is the distal portion of the cotyledon which remains within the seed and grows in conjunction with endosperm degradation. This project (with a structural emphasis) employing a multidisciplinary approach is proposed to elucidate the function of the haustorium and the interaction between the haustorium and endosperm tissue. Structural and functional aspects of the interaction of the haustorium and endosperm tissue in the palm family will be conducted by 1) studying seed structure and developmental changes accompanying germination in the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), 2) observing phosphate uptake and development of haustorial phosphate granules and their structural characteristics using chemical and physical fixation conditions and 3) using enzyme assays and techniques of localization on sections to determine the location and controls of hydrolase production. The plants Dr. De Mason is working with are economically and scientifically important and little understood. These studies will lead to a better basic understanding of the processes that occur during germination of palm seeds and the role of the haustorium in germination.