I. INTRODUCTION Cereals are the most important crops in the world. They dominate world agricultural production since they directly or

indirectly provide a large proportion of the human sustenance. About half of the plowed land in the world is used for growing the

principal cereals. Cereal grains commonly contain 60–70% starch and 7–14%

protein. They are the most important source of carbohydrates for humans

and domestic animals, and also provide a substantial proportion of protein.

Cereals are the staple foods for many people everywhere on the globe, particularly in the developing countries, because they are a relatively cheap source of calories and protein compared to meat.

Grain is a collective term applied to cereals.

The main cereal grains include wheat, rice, maize, barley,

sorghum, teff, rye, oats, and millets.

The majority of the world population subsists mostly on wheat,

rice, and maize.

These three cereals account for more than 80% of total cereal

grain yield in the world.

Other cereals belong to minor cereal crops called coarse grains.

Most cereals can be used as staple grains for humans, but maize,

barley, oats, and grain sorghum can also be used as feed grains

for livestock, particularly in developed countries.

Cereals are members of the grass family Gramineae, being

monocotyledonous angiosperms.

They show great genetic diversity and are ubiquitous,

ranging in adaptation from the semi-arid and humid tropics

to both wet and dry temperate zones, and even to very cold

climates (e.g., rye and oats).

Typical characteristics include fibrous root systems, an

upright stalk with nodes and internodal spacing and a pithy

stalk, and narrow long blade leaves with parallel veins.

Cereal grains are single-seed fruits called caryopses.

The seed consists of seed coat, embryo (germ) and endosperm.

Cereal grains contain starch, protein, lipid, fiber, vitamins, and

minerals.

Scientific and Common Names of Major Cereals inthe Grass Family (Gramineae)

Common Name Scientific Name (genus and species name)

Common wheat Triticum aestivum

Durum wheat Triticum durum

Rice Oryza sativa

Maize (corn) Zea mays

Barley Hordeum vulgare

Grain sorghum Sorghum vulgare

Common oats Avena sativa

Rye Secale cereale

Pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum