Shielding the oil reserves: the scutellum as a source of chemical defenses

In germinating monocot seeds, scutella function in absorbing nutrients from the endosperm, transfer of sugars and amino acids to the developing plant and providing oil reserves. This critical role as a nutrient link also makes the scutellum prone to pest and pathogen attack. Grain crop scutella have long served as a model for lipid body and gibberellin (GA) phytohormone formation during seed development and germination. However, a role of the scutellum as a source of defense metabolites for protecting valuable nutrient reserves has been widely overlooked. Here, we highlight recent insights into the specialized metabolism with potential defensive functions in cereal scutella.