Food Structure
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Abstract
The location and distribution of some of the storage constituents in the structures of rapeseed and its products were investigated. Hand-cut or glycol methacrylate-embedded sections were stained with dyes or fluorochromes of known specificities and examined using fluorescence, bright-field and/or polarizing microscopy. Results obtained from the study were based upon observations of characteristics of the various stainings, birefringence, induced fluorescence and autofluorescence. The effects of enzymatic hydrolysis, solvents and processing on the cellular structures and their affinity for certain dyes/ fluorochromes were also investigated. Major and minor storage constituents were tentatively located in the structure of rapeseed. Lipids and proteins were stored within separate cellular organelles which were distributed throughout the aleurone layer of the endosperm and cells of the embryo. These two accounted for the major portions of rapeseed storage reserves. Phytin crystals were detected inside the protein bodies of the embryonic cells. Most of the rapeseed polysaccharides were present as structural (cellwall) carbohydrates of which amyloid was one of the major components. The seed coat of rapeseed is a complex structure containing structural carbohydrates, mucilage and lignin. The testa of the yellow seed-coated cultivar, Candle, was structurally and chemically different from that of other rapeseed varieties.
Recommended Citation
Yiu, S. H.; Poon, H.; Fulcher, R. G.; and Altosaar, I.
(1982)
"The Microscopic Structure and Chemistry of Rapeseed and its Products,"
Food Structure: Vol. 1:
No.
2, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/foodmicrostructure/vol1/iss2/4