Experimental study of embryo differentiation in angiosperms

By comparison of peony and lotus embryos in in vitro culture we established differences in their morphogenetic potential. We traced in peony embryo culture: embryogenesis, embryoidogenesis, organogenesis and histogenesis, whereas the lotus embryo enhibited only one pathway of development - embryogenesis. At the critical stage the embryo becomes independent of the maternal organism, i.e, self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency of the lotus embryo on the 4O-11th day after pollination correlates with development and greening of the first -lead in the plumule, with a sharp increase in embryo dry weight and content of carbohydrates, decrease in the size of the endosperm, degeneration of the inner integument, appearance of starch in the embryo and ovary walls an Increase of its content in the outer integument.