TY - JOUR
T1 - Morphological and micromechanical characterization of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals embedded in the pecan nutshell (Carya illinoinensis)
AU - Nicolás-Bermúdez, J.
AU - Arzate-Vázquez, I.
AU - Chanona-Pérez, J. J.
AU - Méndez-Méndez, J. V.
AU - Rodríguez-Castro, G. A.
AU - Martínez-Gutiérrez, H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018
PY - 2018/11
Y1 - 2018/11
N2 - The morphology and micromechanical properties of the mineral crystals embedded in the pecan nutshell (Carya illinoinensis) were characterized. Qualitative and quantitative morphological analyses carried out revealed that the crystals were comprised of calcium oxalate (CaOx) and have a wide range of sizes, with prismatic shapes, distributed heterogeneously in the sclerenchyma tissue. From indentation tests, it was found that CaOx crystals are stiffer structures compared to stone cells (sclerenchyma tissue), showing hardness and elastic modulus values of 0.53 ± 0.19 GPa and 9.4 ± 1.80 GPa, respectively. Additionally, the values of fracture toughness (0.08 ± 0.02 MPa m0.5) and the brittleness index (9336 m−0.5) revealed that these types of structures are extremely brittle. The results obtained suggest that the main function of the CaOx crystals is to provide structural support to tissue. The presented methodology demonstrates the potential of the instrumented indentation technique (IIT) for in situ micromechanical characterization of mineral crystals located in plant tissues.
AB - The morphology and micromechanical properties of the mineral crystals embedded in the pecan nutshell (Carya illinoinensis) were characterized. Qualitative and quantitative morphological analyses carried out revealed that the crystals were comprised of calcium oxalate (CaOx) and have a wide range of sizes, with prismatic shapes, distributed heterogeneously in the sclerenchyma tissue. From indentation tests, it was found that CaOx crystals are stiffer structures compared to stone cells (sclerenchyma tissue), showing hardness and elastic modulus values of 0.53 ± 0.19 GPa and 9.4 ± 1.80 GPa, respectively. Additionally, the values of fracture toughness (0.08 ± 0.02 MPa m0.5) and the brittleness index (9336 m−0.5) revealed that these types of structures are extremely brittle. The results obtained suggest that the main function of the CaOx crystals is to provide structural support to tissue. The presented methodology demonstrates the potential of the instrumented indentation technique (IIT) for in situ micromechanical characterization of mineral crystals located in plant tissues.
KW - CaOx crystals
KW - Instrumented indentation technique
KW - Micromechanical properties
KW - Morphological analysis
KW - Pecan nutshell
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054670242&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.10.008
DO - 10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.10.008
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 30326435
SN - 0981-9428
VL - 132
SP - 566
EP - 570
JO - Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
JF - Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
ER -