Natural nanofibers embedded in the seed mucilage envelope: composite hydrogels with specific adhesive and frictional properties.

The increasing interests in natural, biodegradable, non-toxic materials that can find application in diverse industry branches, for example, food, pharmacy, medicine, or materials engineering, has steered the attention of many scientists to plants, which are a known source of natural hydrogels. Natural hydrogels share some features with synthetic hydrogels, but are more easy to obtain and recycle. One of the main sources of such hydrogels are mucilaginous seeds and fruits, which produce after hydration a gel-like, transparent capsule, the so-called mucilage envelope.

Adhesion of the mucilage envelope of seeds probed by sum frequency generation spectroscopy.

The attachment of seeds to natural surfaces is important for the reproductive success of plants. This study investigates the adhesion mechanisms of seed mucilage to CaF and polystyrene surfaces, using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and pull-off force measurements. The results show that the adhesion is driven by the formation of crystalline cellulose at the interface.

Application of Recurrence Plot Analysis to Examine Dynamics of Biological Molecules on the Example of Aggregation of Seed Mucilage Components.

The goal of the research is to describe the aggregation process inside the mucilage produced by plant seeds using molecular dynamics (MD) combined with time series algorithmic analysis based on the recurrence plots. The studied biological molecules model is seed mucilage composed of three main polysaccharides, i.e.

Localization of Sesquiterpene Lactones Biosynthesis in Flowers of Taxa.

is a valuable plant with high demand on the pharmaceutical and cosmetic market due to the presence of helenalin (H) and 11α, 13-dihydrohelenalin (DH) sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), with many applications and anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, analgesic and other properties. Despite the great importance of these compounds for the protection of the plant and their medicinal value, the content of these lactones and the profile of the compounds present within individual elements of florets and flower heads have not been studied so far, and attempts to localize these compounds in flower tissues have also not been conducted. The three studied taxa synthesize SLs only in the aerial parts of plants, and the highest content of these substances was found in cv.

Plant Seed Mucilage as a Glue: Adhesive Properties of Hydrated and Dried-in-Contact Seed Mucilage of Five Plant Species.

Seed and fruit mucilage is composed of three types of polysaccharides-pectins, cellulose, and hemicelluloses-and demonstrates adhesive properties after hydration. One of the important functions of the mucilage is to enable seeds to attach to diverse natural surfaces. Due to its adhesive properties, which increase during dehydration, the diaspore can be anchored to the substrate (soil) or attached to an animal's body and dispersed over varied distances.

The role of mucilage envelope in the endozoochory of selected plant taxa.

Myxodiaspory (formation of mucilage envelope around seeds and fruits) is a common adaptation to dry habitats known in many families of Angiosperms. The mucilage envelope of some seeds seems to be also a unique morphological adaptation which protects myxospermatic diaspores while passing through the bird's digestive system. To evaluate the protective potential of mucilage, we fed the diaspores of seven plant species (representing three different mucilage types and three species of non-mucilaginous plants) to pigeons, Columba livia domestica.

Biological adhesion in seagrasses: The role of substrate roughness in Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile seedling anchorage via adhesive root hairs.

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that developed several adaptive traits for living in submerged waters. Among this group, Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is the dominant species of the Mediterranean Sea, forming persistent meadows that provide valuable ecosystem services to human communities.

Localization of Phenolic Compounds at an Air-Solid Interface in Plant Seed Mucilage: A Strategy to Maximize Its Biological Function?

Given a low concentration of phenols in the naturally occurring aqueous lubricant (mucilage) from hydrated seeds, their biological functions should be severely limited. Here, we introduce an undisclosed natural strategy that enables maximization of phenolic functions through exposing the phenols at the air-seed solid interface. Our findings not only offer a new perspective on plant reproduction physiology but also provide insights into an innovative design of lubricating biomaterials with additional phenolic functions.

Friction-Active Surfaces Based on Free-Standing Anchored Cellulose Nanofibrils.

A specific feature of fibrous surfaces is the dependence of their mechanical properties on the alignment of the fibers. Vertically aligned fibers enhance friction and adhesion, whereas horizontal fibers are known to act as a lubricant reducing the friction. Many plants form a specific fibrous mucilage cover around their seeds upon hydration.

The micro- and nanoscale spatial architecture of the seed mucilage-Comparative study of selected plant species.

The seed coat mucilage envelope is formed just after hydration and surrounds the seed as a gel-like, transparent capsule. The mucilage envelope represents a special type of modified cell wall with all of the typical polysaccharides i.e.

"Sticky invasion" - the physical properties of L. seed mucilage.

The mucilage envelope of seeds has various functions including the provision of different ways for the dispersal of diaspores. Chemical composition and water content of the mucilage yield particular adhesive and frictional properties in the envelope that also influence the dispersal of seeds. To determine the physical properties of seed mucilage we studied (1) composition, (2) desiccation, (3) adhesion, and (4) friction properties of the mucilage under different hydration conditions.

Oil Secretory System in Vegetative Organs of Three Arnica Taxa: Essential Oil Synthesis, Distribution and Accumulation.

Arnica, a genus including the medicinal species A. montana, in its Arbo variety, and A. chamissonis, is among the plants richest in essential oils used as pharmaceutical materials.

Slipping vs sticking: water-dependent adhesive and frictional properties of Linum usitatissimum L. seed mucilaginous envelope and its biological significance.

Flax seeds produce mucilage after wetting. The mucilage due to its ability to absorb and maintain water is responsible for specific surface properties which are essential for seed dispersal in different ways. In the present paper, we asked how the hydration level affects the adhesive and frictional properties of the mucilage and which role does the mucilage play in seed dispersal? We have experimentally quantified: (1) desiccation dynamics of seeds with a mucilage envelope, (2) desiccation-time dependence of their friction coefficient, and (3) desiccation-time dependence of their pull-off forces on a smooth glass substrate.

Variation of DNA amount in 47 populations of the subtribe Artemisiinae and related taxa (Asteraceae, Anthemideae): karyological, ecological, and systematic implications.

Genome size has been estimated by flow cytometry in 47 populations of 40 species of the tribe Anthemideae (Asteraceae), mainly from Artemisia and other genera of the subtribe Artemisiinae and related taxa. A range of 2C values from 3.54 to 21.