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Seed Microstructure And Its Relationship To Water Uptake In Isogenic Lines And A Cultivar Of Dry Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.), George N. Agbo, George L. Hosfield, Mark A. Uebersax, Karen Klomparens

Food Structure

Comparisons using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were made among seeds of the isogenic bean strains, 'Nep - 2' and 'San Fernando' and 'Sanilac', a navy bean cultivar, to ascertain interrelationships between seed microstructure and water absorption characteristics. During a 90 min soaking period 1:1 (v /v) tap and distilled water, 'San Fernando' hydrated at the s lowest rate and imbibed water at only 60% and 78% of the percentages of water imbibed by 'Sanilac' and 'Nep-2', respec tively. Among the three bean genotypes, 'Sanilac' hydrated the most rapidly and imbibed the most water (5 2.9% ). 'Nep - 2' was …