Vacuole Formation in Wheat Starchy Endosperm

Authors

D. B. Bechtel
A. Frend
L. A. Kaleikau
J. D. Wilson
P. R. Shewry

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

The formation of vacuoles in wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Highbury) starchy endosperm cells was studied using electron microscopy. Some vacuoles were always present, even in the coenocytic cytoplasm. The first formed endosperm cells were highly vacuolated, but became filled with cytoplasm as they grew older. Various-sized pieces of cytoplasm were found in vacuoles of developing endosperm cells, probably as a result of autophagic sequestration. The membranes of the autographic vacuoles appeared to originate from the rough endoplasmic reticulum and from extensions of already-formed vacuoles. Autographic activity was confirmed by localizing the hydrolytic enzyme acid phosphatase within the vacuoles. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) also stained positive for this enzyme.

Recommended Citation

Bechtel, D. B.; Frend, A.; Kaleikau, L. A.; Wilson, J. D.; and Shewry, P. R. (1989) "Vacuole Formation in Wheat Starchy Endosperm," Food Structure: Vol. 8: No. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/foodmicrostructure/vol8/iss2/3