Proanthocyanidins in the testa of centrospermous seeds

The seed coat of species from several centrospermous families was tested for the presence of proanthocyanidins. Unripe seeds of all species investigated gave clearly positive results, while the presence of proanthocyanidins in ovules and ripe seeds was less obvious. In the leaves of the specimens used as seed sources no proanthocyanidins were found. The results are discussed in the light of Bate-Smith's hypothesis that the loss of the ability to produce condensed tannin is irreversible.