Differences of starch granule distribution in grains from different spikelet positions in winter wheat

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 16;9(12):e114342. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114342. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Wheat starch development is a complex process and is markedly difference by changes in spikelet spatial position. The present study deals with endosperm starch granule distribution and spatial position during filling development. The study was conducted with pure starch isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Jimai20 and Shannong1391, at 7-35 days after anthesis (DAA). The results showed that grain number, spikelet weight and grain weight per spikelet in different spatial position showed parabolic changes. Upper spikelets had highest starch and amylose content followed by basal spikelets, then middle spikelets. The paper also suggested the volume percents of B-type and A-type granule in grain of middle spikelets were remarkably higher and lower than those of basal and upper spikelets, respectively. However, no significant difference occurred in the number percents of the two type granule. The ratio of amylase to amylopectin was positively correlated with the volume proportion of 22.8-42.8 µm, but was negatively related to the volume proportion of <9.9 µm. The results indicated that the formation and distribution of starch granules were affected significantly by spikelet position, and grains at upper and basal spikelet had the potential of increasing grain weight through increasing the volume of B-type granules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amylases / analysis
  • Amylopectin / analysis
  • Amylose / analysis
  • Particle Size
  • Seeds / chemistry*
  • Spatial Analysis
  • Starch / analysis*
  • Sunlight
  • Temperature
  • Triticum / chemistry*

Substances

  • Starch
  • Amylose
  • Amylopectin
  • Amylases

Grants and funding

The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31271661, 31271667), the Public Service Sector (Agriculture) Research Program of China (201203100) and Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.