Anatomia de la semilla de chenopodium berlandieri ssp . nuttalliae ( chenopodiaceae ) " huauzontle "

The seed of huauzontle (Chenopodium berlandieri ssp. nuttalliae) was studied by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. When the outer integument arises around the young ovule, instead of covering the inner integument and the nucellus, it grows backwards and partially surrounds the funiculus . When the pericarp is removed from the mature fruit, the seed is straw colored, because only the tegmen covers the seed. The chalaza of this seed has the form of a truncate cone, with the elliptical base towards the nucellus. In this zone of contact between the chalaza and the nucellus. a cuticle is deposited that surrounds some cells and makes a three dimensional network. This chalazal network is in contact with a smooth nucellar cuticle that fom1s part of the seed coat. The inversion of the inner integument could represent a selected mutation during the process of domestication.