Histochemical Changes in the Cotyledon and Embryonic Axis of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) Seeds during Desiccation

Jackfruit seeds are recalcitrant and hence desiccation sensitive. Fresh jackfruit seeds were subjected to desiccation by exposing to air drying at room temperature (30±2ºC). During desiccation the seeds retained viability only up to 12 days. Histological and histochemical changes during desiccation up to the loss of viability were studied at comparable intervals during a period of 16 days. Disappearance of starch grains was observed in the cotyledons and the tip of the embryonic axis during desiccation. The distribution of starch grains in the cotyledons and embryonic axis and the histological changes in the embryonic axes were found to be directly related to the loss of seed viability.