Endosperm chemical components

The pericarp or hull of the corn kernel is a thin outer covering made up of two layers. Removal of this part of the corn kernel results in corn bran. The endosperm, which comprises up to 82% of the kernel s dry weight, is the source of energy for the germinating seed. In all field corn, the endosperm is comprised of two types of starch vitreous and floury. The proportion of these starches is controlled genetically. The floury endosperm is the softer starch, and as the kernel matures, this type of starch dries down to create the dent in the top of the kernel. The major chemical component of the maize... 

Figure 4.3.3, A and B, shows a typical NIR chemical image and a reflectance spectrum acquired in the hard endosperm structure of the kernel. Although each image cube visualizes the biochemical composition of specific morphological structures at each physical depth into the sample, all of the data sets can also be assembled to constmct an image of the three-dimensional distribution of the chemical components of interest. The individual image cubes are first processed, using a commercially available software package (ISys 3.0, Spectral Dimensions, Ine.), by first subtracting...

However, the concentrations of minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals are very high in the bran and their removal lowers the nutritional value. Some data for the concentrations of vitamins and minerals in the starchy endosperm and the aleurone components are shown in Table 14.1. Myriad different chemical compounds can be found in the whole grain of cereals, some of which may not yet have been identified. Therefore, cereal chemists have a great challenge for the future to identify them and to contribute to elucidating their role in improving health. 

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