Abstract:The development of embellum in guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) was observed under light microscope with traditional paraffin sectioning methods. At megaspore mother cell stage, one or more nucellar epidermal cells in micropylar end differentiated into embellum. As the ovule grew, the embellum developed more greatly and appeared to be enlarged and elongated. Mature embellums showed obvious polarity, the nucleus of which was near the micropylar pole of the cell. A big vacuolus almost occupied the whole chalazal pole. No starch grain accumulation was seen in embellum during its development in the present study, but its cell wall and cytoplasm were stained more densely than that of the common nucellar cells, suggesting that the embellum was full of soluble polysaccharide.
