Abstract:To explore the difference between waxy and nonwaxy barley, we used two waxy barley and two nonwaxy barley cultivars as materials in this paper. The development of caryopsis in waxy and nonwaxy barley were investigated by stereomicroscopy observation, histochemical staining, resin semithin slicing and optical microscope observation. The results showed that:(1)the changes of fresh weight, dry weight and moisture content of waxy and nonwaxy barley were basically consistent, and the growth curve was as ‘S’.(2)The results of I2/KI staining for the endosperm and pericarp of two kinds of barley were different. The endosperm of waxy barley was stained redbrown by I2/KI and its pericarp was stained blueblack, but the endosperm and pericarp of waxy barley were both stained blueblack by I2/KI, and both waxy and nonwaxy barley have high amylose content in the pericarp. (3) The occurrence of waxy barley endosperm amyloplast was earlier than that of nonwaxy barley, and the proportion of small amyloplast was higher than that of nonwaxy barley. Also, the endosperm starch filling degree of waxy barley was better than that of nonwaxy barley.(4) Compared with nonwaxy barley, waxy barley showed lower apparent amylase and total starch content but higher soluble sugar content. The results show that the caryopsis growth law of waxy barley is similar to that of nonwaxy barley, but the accumulation law of the starch is different.