Study of Intraspecies Variation in Seed Coat Micro-Morphology of Amaranthus hybridus by Scanning Electron Microscope

Seed character is an important part of any crop plant. The seeds of Amaranthus hybridus (Family-Amaranthaceae) are small in size and not possible to differentiate easily with naked eyes. A little work has been focused on seed morphology of Amaranthus hybridus but no specific work on seed micromorphology has yet been documented. Keeping all these views in mind, we have undertaken the venture for observing possible microfeatures under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The micro-morphological typology of seed surfaces was investigated in eight accessions of Amaranthus hybridus using scanning electron microscopy. Morphological studies showed that seeds were either pyriform or sub-pyriform or sub-spherical in shape. Pleurogram was found on the seed surface in some accessions. The ornamentations of exo-testa were found to be either polygonal or reticular or crosslinked type or spindle shaped or scalariform or undulated lump with tertiary depositions or slits. The aim of this present study was to explore the seed characters which are useful as a tool for identifying crop species and variations among those accessions too. The micromorphological characteristics of the seed coats may provide valuable information for identification of seeds.