Hydrolyzable tannins are incorporated into the endocarp during sclerification of the water caltrop Trapa natans.

ABSTRACT: The water caltrop (Trapa natans) develops unique woody fruits with unusually large seeds among aquatic plants. During fruit development, the inner fruit wall (endocarp) sclerifies and forms a protective layer for the seed. Endocarp sclerification also occurs in many land plants with large seeds; however, in T. natans, the processes of fruit formation, endocarp hardening, and seed storage take place entirely underwater. To identify potential chemical and structural adaptations for the aquatic environment, we investigated the cell-wall composition in the endocarp at a young developmental stage, as well as at fruit maturity. Our work shows that hydrolyzable tannins-specifically gallotannins-flood the endocarp tissue during secondary wall formation and are integrated into cell walls along with

SUBMITTER: Huss JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10762508 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature