Morphology of the Crease Region in Relation to Assimilate Uptake and Water Loss During Caryopsis Development in Barley and Wheat

Abstract

Changes take place about 35 'days' after anthesis in the wall structure of the chalazal cells in caryopses of barley cv. Midas and wheat cv. Sicco grown in conditions where the number of 'days' from anthesis to harvest-ripeness is 60. The primary wall becomes lignified and is separated from the symplast by a layer of suberin. Massive deposits of electron-lucent wall material are laid down between the primary wall and the plasma membrane. From 15 'days' after anthesis increasing amounts of phenolic substances are found in the chalazal cell contents. Xylem parenchyma cells in the crease have some of the characteristics of gland cells and it is suggested that they may function in the control of the water content of the endospem. The cell wall modifications in the chalaza are interpreted as providing a means whereby, during the later stages of grain-filling, water loss from the endosperm can take place without interrupting the supply of assimilates to starchy endospem cells.