1
|
Wan X, Wu Z, Sun D, Long L, Song Q, Gao C. Cytological characteristics of blueberry fruit development. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:184. [PMID: 38475704 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04809-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Using the blueberry cultivar "Powderblue" after pollination, fruits at different developmental stages were collected for study. The transverse and longitudinal diameters, individual fruit weight, and fruit water content were measured during their development. Employing tissue sectioning and microscopy techniques, we systematically studied the morphological features and anatomical structures of the fruits and seeds at various developmental stages, aiming to elucidate the cytological patterns during blueberry fruit development. The results of our study revealed that the "Powderblue" blueberry fruit growth and development followed a double "S" curve. Mature "Powderblue" blueberries were blue-black in color, elliptical in shape, with five locules, an inferior ovary, and an average fruit weight of 1.73 ± 0.17 g, and a moisture content of 78.865 ± 0.9%. Blueberry fruit flesh cells were densely arranged with no apparent intercellular spaces, and mesocarp cells accounted for 52.06 ± 7.4% of fruit cells. In the early fruit development stages, the fruit flesh cells were rapidly dividing, significantly increasing in number but without greatly affecting the fruit's morphological characteristics. During the later stages of fruit development, the expansion of the fruit flesh cells became prominent, resulting in a noticeable increase in the fruit's dimensions. Except for the epidermal cells, cells in all fruit tissues showed varying degrees of rupture as fruit development progressed, with the extent of cell rupture increasing, becoming increasingly apparent as the fruit gradually softened. Additionally, numerous brachysclereids (stone cells) appeared in the fruit flesh cells. Stone cells are mostly present individually in the fruit flesh tissue, while in the placental tissue, they often group together. The "Powderblue" blueberry seeds were light brown, 4.13 ± 0.42 mm long, 2.2 ± 0.14 mm wide, with each fruit containing 50-60 seeds. The "Powderblue" seeds mainly consisted of the seed coat, endosperm, and embryo. The embryo was located at the chalazal end in the center of the endosperm and was spatially separated. The endosperm, occupying the vast majority of the seed volume, comprised both the chalazal and outer endosperm, and the endosperm developed and matured before the embryo. As the seed developed, the seed coat was gradually lignified and consisted of palisade-like stone cells externally and epidermal layer cells internally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianqin Wan
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key laboratory of forest cultivation in plateau mountain of Guizhou province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Zewei Wu
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key laboratory of forest cultivation in plateau mountain of Guizhou province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Dongchan Sun
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key laboratory of forest cultivation in plateau mountain of Guizhou province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Li Long
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key laboratory of forest cultivation in plateau mountain of Guizhou province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Qiling Song
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key laboratory of forest cultivation in plateau mountain of Guizhou province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key laboratory of forest cultivation in plateau mountain of Guizhou province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kidyoo A, Kidyoo M, McKey D, Blatrix R. Molecular phylogeny of Vincetoxicum (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) from Thailand and integrative taxonomy corroborating a new cryptic species within Vincetoxicum kerrii. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2024; 137:21-35. [PMID: 37874443 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-023-01501-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
An updated phylogeny of the genus Vincetoxicum s.l. based on DNA sequences of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and three plastid markers is presented. In total, 21 accessions newly sequenced from Thailand were added to the dataset of the homologous sequences of 75 other Vincetoxicum taxa downloaded from GenBank. In our analysis, the relationships between the well-supported clades largely correspond to those revealed in previous studies. With some exceptions, the phylogenetic positions of the Thai taxa in relation to other conspecifics and congeners generally reflect the geographic distributions of taxa. Moreover, recent extensive sampling throughout Thailand and in-depth investigation have revealed V. kerrii, a slender twiner widespread from South China to Indo-China, to be a species complex. A combination of molecular, morphological, anatomical, ultrastructural and ecological evidence allowed us to reveal a new cryptic species hidden within V. kerrii, described here under the name V. simplex. A comprehensive description, illustrations, photographs, and comparison with the morphologically similar species are provided. Although V. simplex and V. kerrii s.s. resemble one another in various aspects of vegetative and reproductive structures, the latter is phylogenetically closely related to V. irrawadense, which is much less similar morphologically to both V. simplex and V. kerrii s.s. than the latter two are to each other. In addition to the new cryptic species recognized in the present study, a new record for Thailand, V. microstachys, is also reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aroonrat Kidyoo
- Plants of Thailand Research Unit, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Manit Kidyoo
- Plants of Thailand Research Unit, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Doyle McKey
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Rumsaïs Blatrix
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Patil AY, Hegde C, Savanur G, Kanakmood SM, Contractor AM, Shirashyad VB, Chivate RM, Kotturshettar BB, Mathad SN, Patil MB, Soudagar MEM, Fattah IMR. Biomimicking Nature-Inspired Design Structures-An Experimental and Simulation Approach Using Additive Manufacturing. Biomimetics (Basel) 2022; 7:biomimetics7040186. [PMID: 36412714 PMCID: PMC9680522 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics7040186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether it is a plant- or animal-based bio-inspiration design, it has always been able to address one or more product/component optimisation issues. Today's scientists or engineers look to nature for an optimal, economically viable, long-term solution. Similarly, a proposal is made in this current work to use seven different bio-inspired structures for automotive impact resistance. All seven of these structures are derived from plant and animal species and are intended to be tested for compressive loading to achieve load-bearing capacity. The work may even cater to optimisation techniques to solve the real-time problem using algorithm-based generative shape designs built using CATIA V6 in unit dimension. The samples were optimised with Rhino 7 software and then simulated with ANSYS workbench. To carry out the comparative study, an experimental work of bioprinting in fused deposition modelling (3D printing) was carried out. The goal is to compare the results across all formats and choose the best-performing concept. The results were obtained for compressive load, flexural load, and fatigue load conditions, particularly the number of life cycles, safety factor, damage tolerance, and bi-axiality indicator. When compared to previous research, the results are in good agreement. Because of their multifunctional properties combining soft and high stiffness and lightweight properties of novel materials, novel materials have many potential applications in the medical, aerospace, and automotive sectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arun Y. Patil
- School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi 580031, India
- Correspondence: (A.Y.P.); (I.M.R.F.)
| | - Chandrashekhar Hegde
- School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi 580031, India
| | - Guruprasad Savanur
- School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi 580031, India
| | | | | | - Vinay B. Shirashyad
- School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi 580031, India
| | - Rahul M. Chivate
- School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubballi 580031, India
| | | | - Shridhar N. Mathad
- Department of Physics, KLE Institute of Technology, Hubballi 580030, India
| | | | - Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Technology, Glocal University, Delhi-Yamunotri Marg, Saharanpur 247121, India
- Department of VLSI Microelectronics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 602105, India
| | - Islam Md Rizwanul Fattah
- Centre for Green Technology (CGT), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
- Correspondence: (A.Y.P.); (I.M.R.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ghimire A, Chen PY. Seed protection strategies of the brainy Elaeocarpus ganitrus endocarp: Gradient motif yields fracture tolerance. Acta Biomater 2022; 138:430-442. [PMID: 34728425 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Be it animals or plants, most of the organism's offspring come into existence after their embryos develop inside a protective shell. In plants, these hard protective shells are called endocarps. They serve the function of nourishing and protecting the seeds from external mechanical damage. Through evolution, endocarps of plants have developed various structural strategies to protect the enclosed seeds from external threats, and these strategies can vary according to the habitat or lifestyle of a particular plant. One such intriguing hard plant shell is the endocarp of the Elaeocarpus ganitrus fruit. It mostly grows in South Asia's mountainous forests, and its endocarps are known in the local communities as unbreakable and everlasting prayer beads. We report an in-depth investigation on microstructure, tomography, and mechanical properties to cast light on its performance and the underlying structure-property relation. The 3D structural quantifications by micro-CT demonstrate that the endocarp has gradient microarchitecture. In addition, the endocarp also exhibits gradient hardness and stiffness. The toughening mechanisms arising from the layered cellular structure enable the endocarps to withstand higher loads up to 5000 N before they fracture. Our findings provide experimental evidence of outstanding fracture tolerance and seed protection strategies developed by Elaeocarpus ganitrus endocarp that encourage the design of synthetic fracture tolerant structures. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Endocarps are low-density plant shells that exhibit remarkable fracture resistance and energy absorption when they encounter impact by falling from high trees and prolonged compression and abrasion by the predators. Such outstanding mechanical performance originates through structural design strategies developed to protect their seeds. Here we demonstrate previously undiscovered structural features and mechanical properties of Elaeocarpus ganitrus endocarp. We scrutinize the microstructure using high-resolution x-ray tomography scans and the 3D structural quantifications reveal a gradient microstructure which is in agreement with the gradient hardness and stiffness. The multiscale hierarchical structures combined with the gradient motif yield impressive fracture tolerance in Elaeocarpus ganitrus endocarp. These findings advance the knowledge of the structure-property relation in hard plant shells, and the procured structural design strategies can be utilized to design fracture-resistant structures.
Collapse
|