Relative amounts of tissues in mature wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain and their carbohydrate and phenolic acid composition

Hand dissection of mature grains from two common wheats (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Caphorn and cv. Crousty) were performed to quantitatively assess their tissue composition and to obtain homogeneous samples of embryonic axis, scutellum, starchy endosperm, aleurone layer, hyaline layer, outer pericarp and a composite layer made up of testa+hyaline layer+inner pericarp. Polymeric neutral sugar and phenolic acid contents of the samples were determined and used to identify specific composition patterns in each tissue irrespective of the cultivar. The scutellum and embryonic axis showed the lowest amount of carbohydrates with similar relative amounts of arabinose and xylose (Ara+Xyl), but the scutellum differed from the embryonic axis in its high phenolic acid, in particular ferulate dehydrodimer, content. The peripheral layers of the grains were mainly composed of cell wall polysaccharides, chiefly arabinoxylans but with differing structures. The hyaline layer was mostly composed of arabinoxylan with extremely low Ara/Xyl ratio (0.1), with high amounts of ferulic acid monomers and hence very weakly crosslinked. The aleurone layer differed from the outer pericarp by its much lower Ara/Xyl ratio and lower amounts of ferulic acid dimers and trimers. High proportions of ether-linked phenolic acids (released by alkali at 170 °C) were detected specifically in the seed coat and tissues in the crease region. The possible application of biochemical markers found in the various tissues to monitor wheat grain fractionation processes is discussed.     

Changes in Surface Structure during Direct Somatic Embryogenesis in Rice Scutellum Observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Direct somatic embryogenesis in rice scutella was studied by scanning electron microscopy paying attention to the morphological change of surface structure. Somatic embryos were formed when the scutella of immature embryos of cv. Nipponbare were cultured on MS media containing 2 mg L^?1 2,4-D. Embryos were then transferred to the media containing 1 mg L^?1 2,4-D and germinated on hormone-free media. The developmental stages of typical monocotyledonous somatic embryo were classified into proembryo, globular, scutellar and coleoptilar stages by referring to the terminology used for zygotic embryos. Each stage had a characteristic surface structure. The surface of proembryo was smooth. Fibrillar material was observed during the transition from proembryo to globular stage. Fibrillar material was then gradually replaced by a mesh-like structure at the globular stage. With subsequent development of globular embryo, the apical scutellum region became flattened and the ridge of mesh-like structure became lower. Development of scutellum followed by the emergence of coleoptile from the scutellar notch was observed at the scutellar stage. The coleoptile surface was covered with elongating cells. The coleoptilar stage was characterized by the growth of coleoptile and the development of root. However, aberrant somatic embryos which had leafy scutellum and multiple shoot meristem, were also observed.     

甜玉米糊粉层及盾片影响种子活力的超微结构研究

对萌发3d、5d的甜玉米及普通玉米种子糊粉层及盾片细胞结构进行了扫描电镜观察。结果表明:甜玉米无论糊粉层还是盾片细胞都与普通玉米存在较大差异;同时就内容物被利用情况来看,甜玉米糊粉层内容物渗漏严重,种子自身吸收利用少,盾片细胞贮存物质消耗较慢,种子吸收利用能力较弱,最终导致甜玉米种子活力低下。     

甜玉米糊粉层及盾片影响种子活力的超微结构研究

对萌发3d、5d的甜玉米及普通玉米种子糊粉层及盾片细胞结构进行了扫描电镜观察。结果表明:甜玉米无论糊粉层还是盾片细胞都与普通玉米存在较大差异;同时就内容物被利用情况来看,甜玉米糊粉层内容物渗漏严重,种子自身吸收利用少,盾片细胞贮存物质消耗较慢,种子吸收利用能力较弱,最终导致甜玉米种子活力低下。     

玉米种苗转化过程中盾片的超微结构观察

对掖单22玉米种苗转化过程中盾片的超微结构进行了观察。成熟玉米种子盾片中的主要贮藏物质是蛋白质和脂肪,它们分别贮藏在蛋白体和脂体中,没有发现含有淀粉粒的质体。在萌发过程中,盾片中的蛋白体和脂体都呈现解体—生成—再解体的过程。种苗转化的第8天部分质体中出现淀粉粒,不久淀粉粒被降解。盾片不同部位的细胞内贮     

低温冻害对玉米种子盾片超微结构的影响

以玉米杂交种郑单958成熟鲜果穗为材料,研究低温冻害对玉米种子盾片超微结构的影响。结果表明:-10℃处理8h,玉米种子盾片细胞壁、细胞膜、线粒体和蛋白质体都受到不同程度的破坏,一些细胞局部发生轻微的质壁分离,线粒体内部结构紊乱,脊模糊难辨;蛋白质体膨胀液泡化。-20℃处理8h,玉米种子盾片细胞发生严重的质壁分离,原生质膜受到破坏,丧失渗透调节功能,部分细胞液从细胞质中外渗,充斥在细胞膜和细胞壁之间;脂类小滴消失殆尽;核膜破坏、解体,核仁高度凝聚;线粒体膜破坏,脊的数量减少,甚至整个线粒体破损解体;由于各种生物膜的破坏,使细胞内充满许多囊状小泡,严重时细胞壁断裂,细胞器残体充斥在细胞间隙中。     

花后低温对小麦胚形态发育的影响

为探明花后低温对小麦胚形态发育的影响，以半冬性小麦品种烟农19和春性小麦品种扬麦15为材料，人工模拟花后低温，采用树脂切片、显微结构观察及Image-Pro Plus软件图像分析等技术，研究小麦胚在花后低温下的形态变化。结果发现：（1）低温处理后两小麦品种胚的脱氢酶活性均降低，扬麦15的降幅大于烟农19；（2）低温延迟了小麦胚的发育进程，影响胚面积的增长和结构的分化；（3）低温影响盾片细胞发育，抑制盾片上皮细胞的伸长和底部上皮细胞层数的增加，同时使薄壁细胞贮藏物质增多；（4）低温对小麦胚分化过程影响较大，对小麦胚芽分化的抑制作用较明显，对胚根分化影响不明显，同时低温还抑制胚轴细胞数目的增加、体积的增长和贮藏物质的积累；（5）低温影响胚乳输导细胞的发育，减慢输导细胞解体进程。以上结果表明，花后低温使小麦胚结构分化延迟、体积增加减慢；春性小麦胚发育进程对花后低温的响应程度大于冬性小麦。     

小麦颖果发育和萌发过程中盾片的结构特征

为了进一步明确小麦颖果发育和萌发过程中盾片的结构特征,以扬麦13为材料,采用超薄切片、显微和超微观察及Image-pro Plus软件图像分析等技术,研究了小麦盾片在颖果发育及萌发过程中的结构变化。结果表明,花后16d,颖果靠近胚乳的胚周缘细胞由外到内分别分化为盾片上皮细胞和盾片薄壁细胞。在颖果发育过程中,盾片上皮细胞形态由不规则形转变为细长形,数目逐渐增加,面积逐渐减小。盾片上皮细胞中淀粉粒不断降解,颈部盾片上皮细胞呈细长形,而底部细胞呈多边形和椭圆形。盾片薄壁细胞淀粉粒不断增多,体积变大。花后16~20d细胞液泡化,积累脂质体和植酸钙镁颗粒,细胞核中核染色质明显降解。在萌发过程中,盾片上皮细胞由不规则形和多边形向圆形转变,细胞的数目先减少后增加,面积先增加后呈减小趋势。薄壁细胞内淀粉体不断变形、塌陷并逐渐降解,蛋白体发生解体,而脂质体先降解而后又重新合成。由以上结果说明,小麦盾片具有吸收转运养分、贮藏养分及保护胚等功能。