Endosperm and Embryo Development inDaucus carotaL.

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Abstract
Maximum carrot seed dry weight and maximum endosperm volume were reached about 35 d after anthesis, although at this time the endosperm was still soft, the pericarp green and less than 50% of the seeds were viable. Fully viable, ripe seeds were not produced until 44 d later. Seventy per cent of the increase in endosperm volume was due to an increase in cell number, which ceased 35 d after anthesis. The increase in embryo volume was slower and was due to an increase in both cell number and cell volume which continued until 49 d after anthesis. At maturity the embryo was the equivalent of between 2% and 3% of the endosperm volume. The relationship between embryo length and cell number per embryo was unaffected by seed crop plant density, seed crop harvest date and position of the seed on the mother plant but it was affected by the year of seed production, possibly due to differences in temperature during the period of seed growth.