Question

Is endosperm persistent in wheat rice and maize?

Answer 1

Hint: The endosperm is the tissue which occurs in the seeds of many flowering plants. It is the result of double fertilisation and is triploid. It is found around the embryo and provides nutrition to the growing embryo. The endosperm is present in all cereals.

Complete answer:
The endosperm is the result of the triple fusion due to which it is triploid in nature. It has rich deposits of starch and various oils. The endosperm is found separately in the developing embryo. The embryo completely gets consumed by the growing embryo but in many cases, it remains persistent as in the case of cereals. Wheat, rice and maize are important cereal crops which are consumed by human beings. They have a rice deposit of starch as an endosperm which makes them an important source of energy.
The seeds which have deposits of the endosperm are known as albuminous seeds. Other seeds which have endosperm are mustard, castor which has a very thin layer of endosperm. The outer layer of the endosperm is called the aleurone layer which has both storage and digestion activity.

So we can say that the endosperm is not entirely consumed and serves as a source of stored food in cereals like wheat, maize, and rice.

Note –
The seeds in which the endosperm is consumed by the growing embryo is known as non-endospermic seeds. Example peas, groundnuts etc. These seeds do not store food. These seeds may contain oil and proteins. The coconut flesh and the water is also the endosperm which is consumed. The orchid seeds do not have endosperm and the seeds are dust-like.