Protein bodies in umbelliferous seeds. I. Structure

The structure of the protein bodies from seeds of the family Umbelliferae has not been studied extensively since late in the 19th century. Using light and electron microscopy structural aspects of the protein bodies of carrot (Daucus carota L. cv. Imperator 408), wild carrot (Daucus carota L.), caraway (Carum carvi L.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), dill (Anethum graveolens L.), celery (Apium graveolens L. cv. Tall Utah), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill), parsnip (Pastinaca sativa L. cv. Hollow Crown), parsley (Petroselinum sativum L. cv.Moss Curled), and chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium L. cv. Curled) were studied. Both endosperm and embryo protein bodies were investigated. Structurally, the protein bodies from all these genera were similar in that two types of protein bodies were found. One type consisted of a homogeneous, proteinaceous matrix and a number of variously sized, globoid crystal inclusions. The other type consisted of a homogeneous, proteinaceous matrix and either an individual or, more commonly, an aggregate of calcium-rich crystals arranged in a cluster usually termed a druse. Both types of protein bodies were never found in the same cell. Only globoid crystals were found in the embryo protein bodies. Protein bodies in the embryos were smaller, more numerous per cell, and often contained a flocculent, proteinaceous matrix.