Scanning electron microscope-based evaluation of eggshell quality
ABSTRACT: The eggshell is the outermost covering of an egg that provides physical and chemical protection. It is a major source of calcium and minerals for the growing embryo during incubation. The egg industry suffers from a considerable economic loss due to poor eggshell quality. Therefore, develo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Poultry Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579124000075 |
| _version_ | 1797291810905653248 |
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| author | Prem Lal Mahato Tina Weatherby Kristen Ewell Rajesh Jha Birendra Mishra |
| author_facet | Prem Lal Mahato Tina Weatherby Kristen Ewell Rajesh Jha Birendra Mishra |
| author_sort | Prem Lal Mahato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: The eggshell is the outermost covering of an egg that provides physical and chemical protection. It is a major source of calcium and minerals for the growing embryo during incubation. The egg industry suffers from a considerable economic loss due to poor eggshell quality. Therefore, developing an accurate and precise method of determining eggshell quality is crucial in improving eggshells in subsequent generations of breeding stock. Hence, this study aimed to develop a method to accurately and precisely determine 1) eggshell thickness using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and 2) eggshell mineral components using an SEM-Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) system. Four types of table eggs (N = 48; 12 eggs/group): Cage-Free Organic from the US Mainland (CFO-M) and Hawaii (CFO-H), Caged Non-Organic from the US Mainland (CNO-M), and Hawaii (CNO-H) were sourced from the grocery store. Approximately 0.5 mm2 pieces of eggshells from the equator region of the egg were taken and processed for visualization under the SEM. Three distinct layers of eggshell were identified under SEM: the outermost cuticle, the middle palisade, and the innermost mammillary region. The results showed that CFO-H eggs have a greater eggshell thickness (380.43 ± 2.69 µm) and effective thickness (306.28 ± 4.15 µm). Similarly, the mammillary knob count was denser in CNO-H eggs (186 ± 23.02 knobs/0.5 mm2). Calcium (97.36 ± 0.17%) was the highest among minerals in lower palisades (LP). The magnesium concentration was lowest in the LP region, whereas the phosphorus concentration was highest in the upper palisades. Our study established a scientific method to assess the eggshell quality and biochemical characteristics of eggs through SEM and EDS. This method can be used as a marker for selecting superior parent stock to improve eggshell quality in subsequent generations of breeding stock. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:43:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0b03a192bdae454a975947f998220a8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0032-5791 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:43:08Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Poultry Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-0b03a192bdae454a975947f998220a8c2024-02-29T05:17:20ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912024-03-011033103428Scanning electron microscope-based evaluation of eggshell qualityPrem Lal Mahato0Tina Weatherby1Kristen Ewell2Rajesh Jha3Birendra Mishra4Department of Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical, Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USABiological Electron Microscope Facility, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USABiological Electron Microscope Facility, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USADepartment of Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical, Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USADepartment of Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical, Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA; Corresponding author:ABSTRACT: The eggshell is the outermost covering of an egg that provides physical and chemical protection. It is a major source of calcium and minerals for the growing embryo during incubation. The egg industry suffers from a considerable economic loss due to poor eggshell quality. Therefore, developing an accurate and precise method of determining eggshell quality is crucial in improving eggshells in subsequent generations of breeding stock. Hence, this study aimed to develop a method to accurately and precisely determine 1) eggshell thickness using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and 2) eggshell mineral components using an SEM-Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) system. Four types of table eggs (N = 48; 12 eggs/group): Cage-Free Organic from the US Mainland (CFO-M) and Hawaii (CFO-H), Caged Non-Organic from the US Mainland (CNO-M), and Hawaii (CNO-H) were sourced from the grocery store. Approximately 0.5 mm2 pieces of eggshells from the equator region of the egg were taken and processed for visualization under the SEM. Three distinct layers of eggshell were identified under SEM: the outermost cuticle, the middle palisade, and the innermost mammillary region. The results showed that CFO-H eggs have a greater eggshell thickness (380.43 ± 2.69 µm) and effective thickness (306.28 ± 4.15 µm). Similarly, the mammillary knob count was denser in CNO-H eggs (186 ± 23.02 knobs/0.5 mm2). Calcium (97.36 ± 0.17%) was the highest among minerals in lower palisades (LP). The magnesium concentration was lowest in the LP region, whereas the phosphorus concentration was highest in the upper palisades. Our study established a scientific method to assess the eggshell quality and biochemical characteristics of eggs through SEM and EDS. This method can be used as a marker for selecting superior parent stock to improve eggshell quality in subsequent generations of breeding stock.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579124000075eggshell-qualitymammillarymineralpalisadescanning electron microscope |
| spellingShingle | Prem Lal Mahato Tina Weatherby Kristen Ewell Rajesh Jha Birendra Mishra Scanning electron microscope-based evaluation of eggshell quality Poultry Science eggshell-quality mammillary mineral palisade scanning electron microscope |
| title | Scanning electron microscope-based evaluation of eggshell quality |
| title_full | Scanning electron microscope-based evaluation of eggshell quality |
| title_fullStr | Scanning electron microscope-based evaluation of eggshell quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scanning electron microscope-based evaluation of eggshell quality |
| title_short | Scanning electron microscope-based evaluation of eggshell quality |
| title_sort | scanning electron microscope based evaluation of eggshell quality |
| topic | eggshell-quality mammillary mineral palisade scanning electron microscope |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579124000075 |
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