Scanning Electron Microscopic Observation of Endosperm Chalkiness Traits of OsAAP1 Mutant in Rice Gains

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of OsAAP1 gene mutation on chalkiness traits of rice endosperm and the microstructure of starch granules in endosperm, we used rice OsAAP1 mutants as experimental materials, with the help of ordinary optical microscopes and scanning electron microscopes, the morphological structure and arrangement of chalkiness traits and starch granules in the endosperm of Zhonghua 11 rice were observed in rice OsAAP1 mutants and controls. The results showed that the chalkiness rate, chalkiness area and chalkiness degree in rice endosperm of the OsAAP1 mutants were significantly increased, and the morphological structure, arrangement and development of chalkiness traits and starch granules were closely related. Compared with the control Zhonghua 11, there were also significant differences in the shape, structure and arrangement of starch granules between chalky rice and non-chalky rice. However, there was no significant difference between the starch granules in the transparent part of chalky rice and non-chalky rice, and the starch granules in the areas with low chalkiness degree developed well. Thus, the OsAAP1 mutation of rice could significantly increase the chalkiness traits of rice endosperm, and have an important impact on the morphology, structure and development of starch granules in its endosperm.