The anatomy of the fleshy pericarp of maturing Moorpark apricots, Prunus armeniaca

Abstract

The scanning electron microscope was used to study cellular structure of maturing Moorpark apricots. The surface of the apricot shows a light pubescence and stomata. The epidermal cells are small and tangentially elongate as are the first few layers of the hypodermis but there is a rapid gradation through the remaining layers of the hypodermis to the approximately spherical thin-walled parenchyma cells of the middle layer. This middle layer makes up two-thirds of the radius of the apricot flesh. The cells of the inner one third become increasingly oval until the cells close to the pit are long and thin and are radially elongate. Adjacent to the pit are 1–4 layers of small cells. The shapes of the cells making up the various tissue layers of the apricot are similar to those described for other Prunus species.

Keywords:

• apricot
• Prunus armeniaca
• scanning electron microscopy
• anatomy
• morphology