Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2011, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6): 665-674.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1259.2011.00665

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Development of Oil Bodies in the Fruit of Pistacia chinensis

Xiaoru Wang, Wenzhe Liu*   

  1. Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
  • Received:2011-05-04 Revised:2011-08-15 Online:2011-11-01 Published:2011-11-18
  • Contact: Wenzhe Liu

Abstract: Pistacia chinensis is an important woody oil plant. We observed oil bodies in the pericarp, seed coat and cotyledon during fruit development of P. chinensis by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The oil content in the pericarp began to increase gradually when the fruit turned red. The oil in the seed coat accumulated in the early stage of fruit development. In the embryo, oil bodies first appeared in the globular embryo. Oil bodies appeared in the endoplasmic reticulum in seed coat and embryo. The oil in the pericarp originated from the endoplasmic reticulum, plastid and vacuole. The endoplasmic reticulum showed budded oil bodies. Nile red staining revealed oil bodies accumulated as small, separate units. Protein bodies were in the seed coat and embryo. The protein bodies developed later than oil bodies. A small amount of starch granules were found in the pericarp, seed coat and embryo.