摘要：Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is an invaluable tool for studying foods and food products. SEM has been particularly va luable in the study of seed microstructure and the ro le of microstructure in water imbibition by legumes. Controversy continues to surround the causes of hard ness in legumes as addi tional research revea ls differences between legumes that imbibe water and legumes that fail to imbibe water. SEM observation of the microstructural changes occurring in legumes during water imbibition ofkrs a better undcrstandi ng of d i ffc rcnces that ex ist betwee n hard and normal beans. Structural changes during imbibition typical or those fou nd in legumes were observed in three culti va rs of dry beans (Piwseolus I'll/garis).
