Open AccessUltrastructure and energy dispersive spectroscopy-based elemental analysis of the fruit exocarps of Musa sinensis L. (Banana) and Musa paradisiaca L. (Plantain) (Musaceae)
Author(s) -
Barnabas Oluwatomide Oyeyinka,
A. J. Afolayan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
notulae botanicae horti agrobotanici cluj-napoca
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1842-4309
pISSN - 0255-965X
DOI - 10.15835/nbha49312262
Subject(s) - musa × paradisiaca , musa acuminata , musaceae , scanning electron microscope , ultrastructure , elemental analysis , chemistry , botany , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , silicon , nuclear chemistry , horticulture , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , biology , inorganic chemistry , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material
Ultrastructural investigation and analysis of the elemental spectra composition of Musa sinensis L. and Musa paradisiaca L. exocarp (peels) was carried out using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) respectively. Microstructures such as interlocked, polyhedral epidermal cells, ellipsoid-shaped stomata, guard cells, intercellular space, anticlinal-patterned walls and subsidiary cells were observed, with direct and indirect implications in the deposition of important primary and secondary metabolites, thus connoting some medicinal significance. Furthermore, the energy dispersive x-ray spectra revealed the presence of some important elements such as potassium (K), iron (Fe), carbon (C), oxygen (O), silicon (Si) and gold (Au), with high to relatively high carbon and oxygen peaks consistently observed in Musa sinensis and Musa paradisiaca. In the same vein, the relative similarity observed in the constituents of quite a number of the elemental spectra (carbon, oxygen, silicon, gold) in M. sinensis and M. paradisiaca peels, also reflects species relatedness between M. sinensis and M. paradisiaca.