Starch long-term energy storage

Where is starch stored?

Much of the starch is stored in the testa at early stages of seed development, whereas in the developing embryo only a small amount accumulates and is turned over at later stages than in the testa, contributing to oil and storage protein production (Andriotis et al., 2010).

Why is starch better than glycogen?

In contrast to glycogen, which is stored in fungi and animals, starch permits the long-term storage of a higher number of glucose molecules per unit of space (Ball et al., 2011; Cencil et al., 2014; Colleoni and Ball, 2009), with no chemical or osmotic disturbance to the cell.

What is the maximum length of a starch granule?

But there exist variations in their maximum lengths: These lengths range from 130–250 nm for pea starch 26, to 20–50 nm for potato starch granules 35 as opposed to the 400–500 nm reported by 26 and 10–30 nm for corn starch granules 29. The following summarises the consistent features that emerge despite such observed differences 37.

How does stress affect starch accumulation?

Stress-induced starch accumulation has different effects dependent on tissue type. In the source, it can alleviate excess sugars that repress photosynthesis, while in non-photosynthetic tissues, it can maintain sink strength, act as statoliths in roots, and also provide a maximal carbon reserve for the next generation.

What is the function of modified starch?

The function of modified starch is dependent on a number of things: the kind of starch (plant source), the amylose to amylopectin ratio, the nature of the substituents that are added, the degree of substitution, whether it is premodified by acid hydrolysis, and whether the starch is granular or gelatinized.

Does starch accumulation contribute to heat tolerance?

Starch accumulation in the tolerant genotypes was unaffected, contributing to heat tolerance by maintaining the sink strength. This observation was also made in a different study of rice.