A histological and elemental analysis study of the mature seed of Begonia semperflorens

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 2165-2169 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. West ◽  
J. N. A. Lott
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Activation Analysis ◽  
Activation Analysis ◽  
Neutron Activation ◽  
Protein Body ◽  
Lipid Vesicles ◽  
Energy Dispersive ◽  
Protein Bodies ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Whole Seed ◽  
Begonia Semperflorens

The total element content and the subcellular distribution of mineral nutrients were investigated in a species that has very minute seeds. The major storage substances in the seed of Begonia semperflorens were lipids sequestered in lipid vesicles and proteins concentrated in protein bodies. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of protein crystalloids and electron-dense globoid crystals in the protein bodies. These inclusions varied both in size and number in protein bodies from different tissues. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of the globoid crystals showed the high Mg, K, and P levels characteristically found in phytin from large-sized seeds. Small traces of Ca were found in globoid crystals within protein bodies found in the provascular tissue of the embryo. Neutron activation analysis was used to measure the elemental composition of the whole seed and these results were correlated with the findings of energy dispersive X-ray analysis studies of globoid crystals. Key words: Begonia seed, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, protein body, globoid crystal, protein crystalloid, neutron activation analysis.

Studies of Capsicum annuum seeds: structure, storage reserves, and mineral nutrients

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 518-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Chen ◽  
John N. A. Lott
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Activation Analysis ◽  
Activation Analysis ◽  
Neutron Activation ◽  
Capsicum Annuum ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Protein Body ◽  
Sweet Pepper ◽  
Protein Bodies ◽  
Endosperm Protein ◽  
Storage Reserves

Storage reserves of Capsicum annuum (sweet pepper) seeds were studied using light microscopy, histochemical techniques, and electron microscopy. The seed had mainly protein and lipid as storage reserves. Starch was not detected. Thickened endosperm cell walls likely are a store of nonstarch polysaccharide. Protein bodies had protein crystalloids and globoid crystals as inclusions in the proteinaceous matrix. Protein bodies in embryo tissues varied greatly in size both inter- and intra-cellularly, while endosperm protein bodies were similar in size. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis and neutron activation analysis revealed the element content of C. annuum seeds. The presence of P, K, and Mg in all globoid crystals is consistent with their being phytin-rich. The average ratios of Mg:K, based on peak-to-background values for globoid crystals, were lowest in provascular tissues, where most globoid crystals were very small, and were highest in ground meristem tissues, where globoid crystals were large. Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, S, and Cl were detected in some globoid crystals. In globoid crystals of both the cotyledon and hypocotyl – radicle axis, Fe was always detected in protoderm cells, was occasionally detected in ground meristem cells, and was never detected in provascular cells. Neutron activation analysis results showed that Mg, K, S, and Cu were higher in the embryo than in the endosperm, while Cl, Na, and Ca were higher in the endosperm. Mn had similar concentrations in both tissues. Key words: Capsicum annuum, storage reserves, protein body, globoid crystal, phosphorus, seed.

Mineral analyses of storage reserves of Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita andreana pollen

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary R. Skilnyk ◽  
John N. A. Lott
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Activation Analysis ◽  
Activation Analysis ◽  
Neutron Activation ◽  
Energy Dispersive ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Cucurbita Maxima ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Thin Sectioning ◽  
Major Loss ◽  
Storage Reserves

Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita andreana are so closely related that hybridization is possible. These two species also have been shown to have very different levels of calcium storage in their seeds. Our neutron activation analysis studies have shown that the total amount of P, Ca, K, and Mg in pollen of the two species was similar. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis studies also showed that the composition of electron-dense particles in the tube cells of the two species was similar. Thus the differences in Ca levels in phytate reserves in the seeds of these two Cucurbita species do not appear to be paralleled by differences in mineral reserves in the pollen of the two species. Specimen preparation studies demonstrated that even though elements such as P, K, Mg, and Ca are mostly retained by an anhydrous fixation and embedding protocol, thin-sectioning of such blocks on a water-filled microtome boat resulted in major loss of elements. Key words: pollen, mineral nutrients, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, neutron activation analysis, phytate, Cucurbita.

A Fast, Versatile X-ray Fluorescence Method for Measuring Tin in Impregnated Wood

1984 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iver Drabæk ◽  
Leif Højslet Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Activation Analysis ◽  
Activation Analysis ◽  
Neutron Activation ◽  
Tin Oxide ◽  
Fluorescence Method ◽  
Energy Dispersive ◽  
Fundamental Parameter ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Precision And Accuracy ◽  
Impregnated Wood

AbstractThe present paper describes an energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence method for measuring tin in bis(tri-n-butyl)tin-oxide impregnated wood. The proposed method is of the backscatter/fundamental parameter type. Its versatility, precision, and accuracy is demonstrated by analyses of eleven samples of sapwood of Baltic Redwood. The results obtained are compared with those from neutron activation analysis.

Thin-section, freeze-fracture, and energy dispersive x-ray analysis studies of the protein bodies of tomato seeds

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 699-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Spitzer ◽  
John N. A. Lott
Keyword(s):  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Protein Body ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Energy Dispersive ◽  
Protein Bodies ◽  
Elemental Content ◽  
Tomato Seed ◽  
Endosperm Tissue ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Edx Analysis

Protein bodies of dry seeds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) from radicle, hypocotyl, cotyledon, and endosperm tissue were extensively studied using thin-sectioning, freeze-fracturing and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis. Protein bodies varied in size, were oval to circular in section, and generally consisted of a proteinaceous matrix, globoid crystal, and protein crystalloid components. Size, shape, and arrangements of globoid crystals and protein crystalloids varied even within the same cell. Globoid crystals were generally oval to circular in section. They were always surrounded by a proteinaceous matrix. In a given protein body the number present ranged from a few to numerous. A protein body generally contained only one protein crystalloid. In section, protein crystalloids were irregular or angular in shape. They were composed of substructural particles which formed lattice planes. EDX analysis of tomato seed globoid crystals revealed the presence of P, K, and Mg in all cases, a fact that is consistent with globoid crystals being phytin-rich. Rarely, small amounts of calcium were found along with P, K, and Mg in globoid crystals of each of the tissue regions considered. The distribution pattern of cells with Ca containing globoid crystals was random. Small amounts of Fe and Mn were also found in the globoid crystals of protein bodies from certain cell types. These two elements, unlike calcium, were specific in terms of their distribution. Globoid crystals from the protodermal cells often contained Mn and Fe. The globoid crystals from provascular tissue of radicle, hypocotyl, and cotyledon regions often contained Fe while globoid crystals in the first layer of large cells surrounding these provascular areas always contained Fe. Results from EDX analysis of the proteinaceous material from the protein bodies are presented and discussed as are variations in elemental content due to different fixations.

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