Question

Which type of carbohydrates are commonly found in cereal grains?

• A. Monosaccharides
• B. Disaccharides
• C. Polysaccharides
• D. Oligosaccharides

Hint:

Starch (composed of amylose and amylopectin) is the major polysaccharide in the endosperm, representing the bulk of the digestible carbohydrate content in all cereal grains.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Cereal grains (such as wheat, rice, corn, and barley) are the primary source of dietary carbohydrates and energy for the global population.
Their chemical composition is domited by complex, long-chain carbohydrates that store energy for the plant embryo.

Step 2: Detailed Explation:
The carbohydrate profile of a typical cereal grain is domited by starch:
- Starch is a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide consisting of glucose polymers (amylose and amylopectin).
Starch constitutes approximately 60% to 75% of the total dry weight of the grain, acting as the primary energy reserve within the endosperm tissue.
- Grains also contain non-starch polysaccharides like cellulose, hemicellulose, and pentosans, which form the dietary fiber component of the bran.
- Simple sugars, such as monosaccharides (glucose, fructose) and disaccharides (sucrose, maltose), are present in very minute quantities (usually less than 1-2% of the total grain mass).
- Oligosaccharides are also present in minor trace amounts.
Therefore, polysaccharides are the overwhelmingly domint carbohydrate class found in cereal grains.

Step 3: Fil Answer:
The primary carbohydrates in cereal grains are polysaccharides, specifically starch and non-starch structural fibers.
Hence, the correct option is (C).