The three areas of food reserves in quinoa seeds are: a large central
perisperm, a peripheral embryo and a one to two-cell layered endosperm
surrounding the hypocotyl-radicle axis of the embryo. Cytochemical an
d ultrastructural analysis revealed that starch grains occupy the cell
s of the perisperm, while lipid bodies, protein bodies with globoid cr
ystals of phytin, and proplastids with deposits of phytoferritin are t
he storage components of the cells of the endosperm and embryo tissues
. EDX analysis of the endosperm and embryo protein bodies revealed tha
t globoid crystals contain phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. These
results are compared with studies on other perispermous seeds publishe
d to date. (C) 1998 Annals of Botany Company