Accumulation Structure of Storage Substances in Organs of High-Starch-Yielding Crops

Abstract

Humans have selected crops with high starch productivity, created new cultivars, and developed high yielding and quality cultivations in the history of agriculture. Starch productivity and accumulation features o f storage starch differ among crop species and its cultivars. This paper describes morphological and anatomical analyses of accumulation structure of storage substances in organs , using a scanning electron microscope. In order to observe storage substances in tissues and cells of plant body by scanning electron microscope with high resolution, complete dehydration of specimen is necessary after fixing. This paper also introduces ‘rapid freezing-high vacuum freeze drying method' to prevent artifacts. Starch accumulation density is higher in corn (maize) endosperm and rice endosperm, which is considered to contribute to high starch productivity. Potato tuber, sago palm stem and wheat endosperm have been also utilized by their specific ingredients and shapes or forms in their accumulation structure. In the future, demand for starch in Japan and the world will further be expanded. In future not only "quantity" of starch, but also "quality" and "palatability" of starch will be considered.