In freshly matured seeds, two small first true leaves
142.4 ± 16.9 mm in length were observed on the epicotyl plumule
(Fig. 3a), and they grew to a length of 430.9 ± 24.5 mm during 12
weeks of cold stratification (Fig. 3b). Many small lipid bodies and
some large protein bodies and vacuoles were observed in all cells in
the plumule apical meristem of fresh seeds (Fig. 3c). The number of
lipid and protein bodies was reduced greatly during cold stratification
for 12 weeks, and cell division resulted in formation of new cells (Fig. 3d). Many small lipid bodies and some vacuoles, but no protein bodies, were observed in cells of the first true leaves of fresh
seeds (Fig. 3e), and the lipid bodies decreased greatly in number during cold stratification for 12 weeks (Fig. 3f). Cells in the cotyledons of fresh seeds contained many lipid bodies and one large
protein body (Fig. 3g), and a large central vacuole was observed during cold stratification, and it continued to decrease when the
radicle emerged. Myo-inositol, glucose and mannose decreased
about 50% during cold stratification; however, they rapidly
increased three-to four-fold in radicle-emerged seeds. Raffinose
remained at the same level in fresh and cold-stratified seeds but
decreased about seven-fold as the radicle emerged. The concentration
of melibiose was 44 mg (g DW)1 in fresh seeds, and it was
significantly reduced to 23e26 mg (g DW)1 in cold-stratified and
radicle-emerged seeds. The concentration of trehalose remained at
about the same level, 44 mg (g DW)1, in fresh, cold-stratified and
radicle-emerged seeds (Table 5).