NMR study of seed hydration: the role of the seed anatomical structures in water uptake of soaked cowpeas.

A NMR method based on the analysis of the transverse magnetization decay curve of water protons, was employed to study the hydration process of commercial cowpeas. In order to investigate the role of the different anatomical parts of the seeds, hilum and micropyle, or alternatively seed coat, were inhibited by a water resistant epoxy resin. The kinetic constant for the hydration of the different sets of beans was measured.