Anatomical and Physicochemical Characterization of the Araucaria angustifolia Seed Coat

ABSTRACT Seed coat plays an important role in the embryo protection and seed germination. This study aimed to characterize the anatomical structure, histochemical and physicochemical aspects of the seed coat of Araucaria angustifolia Kuntze. Light and scanning microscopy usual procedures, and histochemical tests were used to describe and characterize seed layers, as well as to determine their extractive contents. Functional groups of the integument coat layers were observed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Color analyses were performed in CIE 1976 L*a*b* color space. Wettability o...