TY - JOUR
T1 - Study of cellular architecture and micromechanical properties of cuajilote fruits (Parmentiera edulis D.C.) using different microscopy techniques
AU - Vicente-Flores, Macario
AU - Güemes-Vera, Norma
AU - Chanona-Pérez, José Jorge
AU - Perea-Flores, María de Jesús
AU - Arzate-Vázquez, Israel
AU - Quintero-Lira, Aurora
AU - Sánchez-Fuentes, Cinthia Erika
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC
PY - 2021/1
Y1 - 2021/1
N2 - The cuajilote (Parmentiera edulis D.C.) tree produces fibrous fruits with a high content of lignocellulosic compounds. However, this fruit and their fibers have been scarcely studied. For this reason, an integral study of their cellular architecture, physicochemical, micromechanical, and structural properties in two maturity stages were carried out. Physicochemical tests, light, confocal and electron microscopy, microindentation, and X-ray diffraction were used for the characterization of fruit and their fibers. Chemical analysis showed that the unripe fruits have the highest cellulose content (42.17%), but in ripe fruit the cellulose content decreases (32.76%) while lignin content increases from 35.26 to 40.79%, caused by the lignification of the sclerenchyma fibers. Microstructural and micromechanical studies in the different regions of the fruit provided relevant information about its cellular architecture, distribution of lignocellulosic compounds and its role in the micromechanical properties of their fibers. The thickening cell wall of sclerenchyma fibers was caused by the cellular lignification of the ripe fruits. According to the physicochemical and structural studies, cuajilote fibers are comparable to other fibers obtained from crops rich in lignocellulosic compounds. The current study provided new knowledge about the cellular architecture of fruit and criteria for selecting the ripening stage adequate for the extraction of cellulose or lignin. Furthermore, information regarding the micromechanical properties of their fibers and which structural arrangement could be more convenient for mechanical reinforcement of biodegradable materials was obtained.
AB - The cuajilote (Parmentiera edulis D.C.) tree produces fibrous fruits with a high content of lignocellulosic compounds. However, this fruit and their fibers have been scarcely studied. For this reason, an integral study of their cellular architecture, physicochemical, micromechanical, and structural properties in two maturity stages were carried out. Physicochemical tests, light, confocal and electron microscopy, microindentation, and X-ray diffraction were used for the characterization of fruit and their fibers. Chemical analysis showed that the unripe fruits have the highest cellulose content (42.17%), but in ripe fruit the cellulose content decreases (32.76%) while lignin content increases from 35.26 to 40.79%, caused by the lignification of the sclerenchyma fibers. Microstructural and micromechanical studies in the different regions of the fruit provided relevant information about its cellular architecture, distribution of lignocellulosic compounds and its role in the micromechanical properties of their fibers. The thickening cell wall of sclerenchyma fibers was caused by the cellular lignification of the ripe fruits. According to the physicochemical and structural studies, cuajilote fibers are comparable to other fibers obtained from crops rich in lignocellulosic compounds. The current study provided new knowledge about the cellular architecture of fruit and criteria for selecting the ripening stage adequate for the extraction of cellulose or lignin. Furthermore, information regarding the micromechanical properties of their fibers and which structural arrangement could be more convenient for mechanical reinforcement of biodegradable materials was obtained.
KW - X-ray diffraction
KW - lignocellulosic fibers
KW - microindentation
KW - microscopy techniques
KW - sclerenchyma fibers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85090457121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jemt.23559
DO - 10.1002/jemt.23559
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 32905658
AN - SCOPUS:85090457121
SN - 1059-910X
VL - 84
SP - 12
EP - 27
JO - Microscopy Research and Technique
JF - Microscopy Research and Technique
IS - 1
ER -