WheatBP

Back to cerealsdbDevelopment Home Germination Early growth and tillering Stem elongation Wheat apex development Flowering and fertilisation Pollen release Grain growth 1 to 4 days Whole grain photographs Embryo sac: events inside Embryo sac: wall changes Embryo micrographs
Grain growth 4 to 10 days Cell layers inside a grain Grain filling 11 to 16 days Grain filling 17 to 21 days Grain filling 21 to 30 days Development of the embryo Dry down 30 to 40 days How we grew the plants Photography and microscopy
DAYS = days after flowering

Grain growth 1 to 4 days

Embryo sac: wall changes

	This transverse section is from a 4 day old grain. During this phase the outer integument degenerates while a cuticle develops on the inner integument. The nucellus degenerates until only its cuticle and epidermis remain. In some areas of grain, but not all, we can see tube cells and cross cells. The Cell Layers inside the Grain are described in detail in a separate section.
	There are complex changes in the structure of the embryo sac wall during the first days of grain growth. This transverse section is from a 2 day old grain and shows the cell layers near the ventral groove. Not all the layers are labelled. From the inside: nucellus, nucellar epidermis (arrowed), inner integument (two cells thick), outer integument (two cells thick), tube cells, cross cells, maternal pericarp. The Cell Layers inside the Grain are described in detail in a separate section.
	This transverse section of the embryo sac wall is taken from the flank of the grain at 3 days after fertilization. One nucleus from 'free division' can be seen, but it has no cell walls associated.

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