Scanning Electron Microscopy of the Endosperm of Cereal Crops : 2. Starch Cell Layer of Japonica Type Rice, Non-glutinous

1 . The section of the starch cell layer of endosperm tissue of mature rice kernel (japonica type, non-glutinous) were observed by scanning electron microscope. 2. The position of the central point in the cross section was situated on the dorsiventral diameter and more or less away from the centre of diameter to the ventral side. So the lateral diameter through the central point was a little shorter than the true lateral diameter, the thickness. 3 . The shape of cells surrounding the central point (cross section) and the centre line (vertical-lateral or-dorsiventral section) was mostly hexagonal. 4 . In the cross section, cells along the dorsiventral diameter were square pillar, those along the lateral diameter were large polygonal , and those of the sectoral portion by dorsiventral and lateral diameters were square pillar-polygonal. 5 . The shape of cells in the vertical-lateral section were polygonal regardless of the position of sections. 6 . In the vertical-dorsiventral section, of long cells were observed along the dorsiventral diameter except of the circumferential portion of the central point, and polygonal cells were observed in other portion than neighbourings of the dorsiventral diameter. 7 . Starch cells of the mature endosperm were densely filled up with starch granules, and those of rice bran layer contained rather coarsly starch granules. (Received July 1, 1974 )