Tricotyledony in Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae)

Abstract

The phenomenon of typically dicotyledonous plants producing three cotyledons has been referred to as tricotyledony or tricotyly. More generally, the production of an abnormal number of cotyledons has been referred to as pleiocotyly. Molecular studies have shown that a few mutated genes could produce tricotyledonous traits in the model plant, Arabidopsis1,2. Tricotyledonous seedlings occur sporadically in nurseries of dicotyledonous plant species in over 15 families of plants3. However, the phenomenon has not been reported in seabuckthorn (Elaeagnaceae).