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Starch isolated from Zea mays L. kernels homozygous for the endosperm mutant amylose‐extender (ae) is composed of normal, nearly spherical granules and abnormal types ranging from spherical granules having extensions of amorphous or optically isotropic starch to very long slender amorphous granules. Normal endosperm cells undergo a developmental sequence of nuclear enlargement, initiation of small spherical granules closely associated with the nucleus, granule enlargement, granule movement away from the nucleus, and continued granule enlargement to cellular maturity. Endosperm cells from the ae mutant undergo a similar developmental sequence except that movement of the spherical granules away from the nucleus is followed by a secondary initiation of abnormal granules in close association with the nucleus. Later in physiological development some of the earlier produced granules develop amorphous extensions. Numbers of abnormal granules increase with physiological age of cells. Endosperm cell maturity gradients in ae kernels are similar to those previously reported for normal kernels.

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