Microscopic techniques for characterization and authentication of oil‐yielding seeds

Abstract

Investigation of alternative energy sources is need of current time due to growing power crisis and associated environmental issues. Biodiesel is considered as sustainable power source and promising alternative to fossil fuels. Therefore, our current investigation aimed to identify micromorphological characters of 10 novel nonedible oil-yielding seeds through scanning electron microscopy. It was revealed from light microscopic study that there is variation in seed size from 3 to 15 mm in length and 2 to 11 mm in width. Likewise, a huge variation in color was observed such as light green, greenish yellow, blackish brown, and various shades of brown. Presence and absence of Hilum was observed, and compression of seeds varied from depressed, lateral, and dorsoventral. Seed's shape differs from ovate, clavate, triangular ovate, cuneiform, ovoid, and elliptical shape. Seed oil content fall in range of 18-58% (wt/wt). Free fatty acid content of the seeds varies from 0.3 to 3.1 mg KOH/g. Ultrastructure of seeds exhibited huge variation in shape, size, periclinal wall, anticlinal wall, and surface ornamentation. Nonedible seeds varied in wall structure from angular, wavy, dentate entire, irregular, puzzled, elongated, even, and polygonal.The periclinal wall arrangements show alteration from flat, looped, raised, depressed, lofty, even, pentagonal, polygonal, and undulate seed margins. Outcomes of this investigation recommended that scanning electron microscopy could act as a helpful tool in disclosing the hidden micromorphological characters among nonedible oilyielding seeds and subsequently helping in correct, authentic seed identification and classification as potential feedstock for biodiesel.

Seed Coat Morphology and Sculpturing of Selected Invasive Alien Plants from Lesser Himalaya Pakistan and Their Systematic Implications

“…Cell shape was crooked angular, while anticlinal wall with protrusion and periclinal wall with depressed elevation were observed (Figures 2(f) and 3(f) ). Our results correlate with the findings of [ 28 ].…”

“…SEM result indicated that the seeds of R. communis (Figures 2(m) and 3(m) ) were spherical, rough, sculpturing, asymmetrical, and with reticulate cell arrangement with minute apertures, thick anticlinal walls, and raised smooth periclinal walls. Similar findings were noted in seeds of Ricinus communis by [ 28 ].…”

“…Anticlinal walls were smooth and thin, while periclinal walls were raised with thick irregular cell arrangement (Figures 2(d) and 3(d) ). [ 28 ] found similar seed sculpturing in species of Calotropis. Seed morphology and seed coat anatomy were studied by [ 29 ] in some species of Apocynaceae and Asclepiadeceae using LM and SEM and found that the potential taxonomic value of the recorded characters is indicated by the richness of variation recorded in the sample of genera and species.…”

Implication of scanning electron microscopy as a tool for identification of novel, nonedible oil seeds for biodiesel production

“…Measurements were repeatedly taken for three to five times and mean values were recorded. Length and width of sample seeds were measured using a ruler (Aziz et al, 2021; Dawood et al, 2020; Munir et al, 2021). Macromorphological features were further validated from flora of Pakistan.…”

Scanning electron microscopy as a tool for authentication of biodiesel synthesis from Linum usitatissimum seed oil

“…Micromorphological character of seeds are studied through SEM which is less costlier, most reliable, easy, and time saving as compared to other modern techniques (Ayaz et al, 2020;Aziz et al, 2021;Rashid et al, 2021). The surface morphology of proposed green nanocatalyst has been determined using SEM technique which has been proved very effective in the field of plant taxonomy because it is used to explore the surface features of vegetative and reproductive organs (Ahmad et al, 2020;Usma et al, 2019).…”