Varietal Differences in Surface Ultrastructure of Endosperm Cells and Starch Granules of Rice

A study was made of varietal differences in surface ultrastructure of endosperm cells and native and modified starch granules of rices. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture face of the endosperm verified that opacity in nonwaxy rice was due to the loose arrangement of cell contents. By contrast, the endosperm of waxy rice only showed a mealy portion although it is opaque. Corrosion with HCl resulted in little change in surface structure, whereas α‐amylolysis resulted in varietal differences in corrosion patterns. Waxy granules showed the fastest and most uniform pitting on α‐amylolysis.