Fig. 3

The glcat14a-1 and glcat14a-1glcat14c-1 mutants have seed mucilage defects. a Seeds hydrated in water were stained with 0.01% RR. b Seeds hydrated in 1 M Na₂CO₃ and stained with 0.01% RR. Loss of adherent mucilage was observed in the glcat14a-1glcat14c-1 double mutant seeds coupled with the “peeling off” of the adherent layer from the seed coat when gently shaken, as indicated by an arrow (c). Note that in the WT and glcat14 single mutants, the adherent layer surrounded the seed coat. Quantification of the average stained mucilage area for water hydrated seeds (d) and Na₂CO₃ hydrated seeds (e). Box plots were generated from three biological replicates of (> 20 seeds each). The percentage (%) decrease in mucilage area (d and e) were indicated for each mutant relative to the WT. The single and double asterisk marks a significant decrease compared with WT (Student’s t-test, P < 0.05 for single asterisks and P < 0.01 for double asterisks). ND- Not detected. Bars = 150 μm