Cell wall deposition and metabolism in wheat grain

There is an amazing diversity of cell wall composition and cell wall polysaccharide structure in wheat grain that is only partly explained by the complexity of plant tissues and cell type functions present in this organ. This review presents the state of the art on the structure and diversity of cell wall polymers in mature wheat grain and recent knowledge on cell wall metabolism with a focus on development-associated changes in wheat grain cell wall polysaccharides and genes controlling their biosynthesis. The diversity of polysaccharide structure observed in endosperm cell walls is tentatively explained on the basis of polysaccharide properties and cell type function. ► The structure and diversity of cell wall polymers in mature wheat grain is presented. ► Focus on development-associated changes of cell wall polysaccharides in grain. ► Focus on cell wall biosynthesis and genes controlling GT and GH. ► The diversity of AX possibly modulates the hydration properties of cell walls.