Morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and ESEM-EDS
The seed morphology of three Pseudocereal Grains (PSCg), i.e. quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd, Chenopodiaceae), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, Polygonaceae) and amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L., Amaranthaceae) was studied by light microscopy (LM) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microsc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2020-01-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Histochemistry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.ejh.it/index.php/ejh/article/view/3075 |
| _version_ | 1818230639432826880 |
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| author | Paolino Ninfali Anna Panato Federica Bortolotti Laura Valentini Pietro Gobbi |
| author_facet | Paolino Ninfali Anna Panato Federica Bortolotti Laura Valentini Pietro Gobbi |
| author_sort | Paolino Ninfali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The seed morphology of three Pseudocereal Grains (PSCg), i.e. quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd, Chenopodiaceae), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, Polygonaceae) and amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L., Amaranthaceae) was studied by light microscopy (LM) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (ESEM-EDS). LM was used with visible light to evaluate either unstained sections or sections stained with Azan mixture and with fluorescent light. The aim of the study was to compare the architecture of the three seeds in order to connect their morphology with nutrient localization. The Azan staining allowed for the visualization of the seed coat, the embryo - with its shoot apical meristem - and the radicle cell layers, whereas the use of fluorescent microscopy identified the cells rich in phenolic compounds. Finally, the ESEM-EDS analysis revealed that the seed coat of the quinoa was thinner than that of amaranth or buckwheat. In all PSCg, starch granules appeared to be located in large polygonal cells, surrounded by a thin cell wall. Several globoids of proteins were observed in the embryo cells. In the radicle section, the vascular bundles of the procambium were evident, while Amaranth only showed a consistent layer of calcium crystals, located between the embryo and the perysperm. The morphological differences of the three PSCg were discussed in the context of their structural resistance to processing technologies which impact on nutritional value of derived foods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:37:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dbb50d6e7e1f4a45bdd14e93074f7781 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1121-760X 2038-8306 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:37:42Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Histochemistry |
| spelling | doaj.art-dbb50d6e7e1f4a45bdd14e93074f77812022-12-22T00:27:10ZengPAGEPress PublicationsEuropean Journal of Histochemistry1121-760X2038-83062020-01-0164110.4081/ejh.2020.3075Morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and ESEM-EDSPaolino Ninfali0Anna Panato1Federica Bortolotti2Laura Valentini3Pietro Gobbi4Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo BoDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of VeronaDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of VeronaDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo BoDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo BoThe seed morphology of three Pseudocereal Grains (PSCg), i.e. quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd, Chenopodiaceae), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, Polygonaceae) and amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L., Amaranthaceae) was studied by light microscopy (LM) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (ESEM-EDS). LM was used with visible light to evaluate either unstained sections or sections stained with Azan mixture and with fluorescent light. The aim of the study was to compare the architecture of the three seeds in order to connect their morphology with nutrient localization. The Azan staining allowed for the visualization of the seed coat, the embryo - with its shoot apical meristem - and the radicle cell layers, whereas the use of fluorescent microscopy identified the cells rich in phenolic compounds. Finally, the ESEM-EDS analysis revealed that the seed coat of the quinoa was thinner than that of amaranth or buckwheat. In all PSCg, starch granules appeared to be located in large polygonal cells, surrounded by a thin cell wall. Several globoids of proteins were observed in the embryo cells. In the radicle section, the vascular bundles of the procambium were evident, while Amaranth only showed a consistent layer of calcium crystals, located between the embryo and the perysperm. The morphological differences of the three PSCg were discussed in the context of their structural resistance to processing technologies which impact on nutritional value of derived foods.https://www.ejh.it/index.php/ejh/article/view/3075PseudocerealsautofluorescenceAzanEnvironmental SEMEDS |
| spellingShingle | Paolino Ninfali Anna Panato Federica Bortolotti Laura Valentini Pietro Gobbi Morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and ESEM-EDS European Journal of Histochemistry Pseudocereals autofluorescence Azan Environmental SEM EDS |
| title | Morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and ESEM-EDS |
| title_full | Morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and ESEM-EDS |
| title_fullStr | Morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and ESEM-EDS |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and ESEM-EDS |
| title_short | Morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and ESEM-EDS |
| title_sort | morphological analysis of the seeds of three pseudocereals by using light microscopy and esem eds |
| topic | Pseudocereals autofluorescence Azan Environmental SEM EDS |
| url | https://www.ejh.it/index.php/ejh/article/view/3075 |
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