Summary
The overall morphology of the developing wheat embryo in relation to its neighbouring tissues is described. The embryo is “isolated” early in development, but appears to be a powerful sink for nutrients. It is supplied initially by hydrolysis of the nucellar parenchyma and later by hydrolysis of neighbouring endosperm cells, which are completely digested. Later on, the nucellar epidermis forms specialised cells that may be transfer cells opposite the groove at the base of the embryo. The accumulation of starch and protein appears to begin first in the basal tissues of the scutellum and coleorhiza.
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References
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