| Isolation of Mature Cereal Embryos and Embryonic Axes. Crop Science 33:1007-1015 |
| Morris,C.F. |
| Numerous areas of biological research
(e.g., control of seed dormancy and protein synthesis, and development of cell-free
translation systems) are greatly aided by the use of large quantities of viable
cereal embryos. The utility of a method that employs a commercial food blender
for embryo isolation was assessed for mature caryopses of various grain lot
of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell), rye (Secale cereale L.), tritcale
(x Triticosecale Wittmack), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa L.),
rice (Oryza sativa L), pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], grain
sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.], and maize (Zea mays L.). The yield,
physical condition, and morphology of embryos and embryonic axes were characterized
using light and scanning electron microscopy. Viability of embryonic axes was
assessed by germination assay. Intact embryonic axes free of damage and adhering
tissues (i.e., scutellum and pericarp) were easily isolated from wheat, rye,
triticale, and oat. The highest yield was obtained with wheat (= 10-15%). In
hulles barley, pericarp always remained attached and covered the radical portion
of the embryonic axis. Embryonic axis isolation from hulled barley was poor.
Rice embryos with adhering scutellum and pericarp were isolated as a unit with
2% yield, similar to rye, triticale, and oat. Intact axes of millet, sorghum,
and maize were isolated infrequently and with difficulty. Viability of embryonic
axes selected visually for intactness and lack of physical damage was similar
to the viability of the parent grain lot.
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