FOOD SCIENCE AND PROCESSING 3 (2+1)

Lesson 6 : Cereals- Composition, Processing and Utilization

Bran or pericarp

The outer layer, epidermis of the cereal consists of thin-walled long rectangular cells. Next to the epidermis is the hypoderm of varying thickness. The innermost layer of pericarp tears during the ripening of the seed and in the mature grain they are represented by a layer of branching hypha-like cells called tube cells.

The seed coat or testa is a thin single or double layer. The inner layer of testa of wheat is often deeply pigmented which gives the grain its characteristic colour. Next of tests is a hyaline (nucellar tissue) which is colourless and devoid of any obvious cellular structure.