Morphological changes of starch granules during grain filling and seed germination in wheat

In this study, the morphological changes of wheat starch granules during grain filling and seed germination were observed under scanning electron microscopy. Until 3 days post anthesis (DPA), the pericarp tissue was the major site of starch deposited. From 6 DPA, the size and the number of granules in endosperm gradually increased. The "double disk structure", "pin holes", and "equatorial groove" at the surfaces of the granules were observed during grain filling, these micro-structural features might aid the enzymatic hydrolysis of starch granules during seed germination. The equatorial groove of granule was more susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis than the flat surface. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.