Structural variability between starch granules in wild type and in ae high-amylose mutant maize kernels.

•Starch granule structure has been probed within ae maize kernels.•Microscopy and spectroscopy of ae maize kernels show heterogeneous starch granules.•The granules show heterogeneity in chemical composition and physical structure.•Heterogeneity occurs within, between granules, and between cells in the kernel.•Heterogeneity changes progressively during kernel development.