Physiology of Grain Development in Cereals

The endosperm is the largest portion of cereals grain and is crucial for the food chain through its consumption by animals and humans for daily caloric intake and is rich in carbohydrates. Starch is the most abundant storage carbohydrate in cereal endosperm and is stored in amyloplasts in the grain. Phytohormone level plays a critical role in endosperm development and starch synthesis in cereals. This chapter highlights the process of flower initiation and development and flowering adaptation to environmental stresses in cereals. Moreover, the different phases and stages of the pollen grain and female gametophyte development; pollination, fertilization, endosperm and seed coat development, starch, and grain storage protein synthesis during the grain development have also been discussed.