Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Microsc Res Tech. 2020 Feb;83(2):165-175. doi: 10.1002/jemt.23399. Epub 2019 Oct 29.
Exploration of substitute energy feed-stocks is the much-debated topic in the scientific society due to increasing power crises and related ecological concerns. As a source of sustainable energy, biodiesel turns out to be the best alternative to petro fuels. In this context, nonedible oil-producing seeds might be a potential source for biodiesel production owing to their environment-friendly nature and cost-effectiveness. The current study, consequently, deals with the investigation and identification of micro-morphological characters between six novel nonedible oil-bearing seeds employing scanning electron microscopy as possible biodiesel feed-stocks. Light microscopic examinations show that seed size varies from 0.3 to 1.3 cm in width and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in. Additionally, a large difference in seed color ranges from dark brown, black, and various shades of light brown was also witnessed. The FFA content of the seeds ranges in 0.3-4.1 mg KOH/g, and the seed oil content fall in 30-65% (w/w) range. SEM-mediated seed ultrastructure investigations displays greater variation in seed size, shape, color, periclinal wall shape, and sculpturing and so on. All the seeds differ from rounded, ovoid, ovate, oblong, flattened, and elliptical shape. Greater variation in seed wall structure has been seen from angular, entire, irregular, straight, elongated, smooth, and polygonal. The periclinal wall arrangements show alteration from flat, depressed, elevated, smooth, pentagonal, bullate, and coarse seed margins. The results obtained from the current study suggest that scanning electron microscopy could be a beneficial tool in vitalizing the hidden micromorphological characters among various nonedible oil producing seeds, which eventually helps in exploration, correct identification, seed classification, and authentication in future.
探索替代能源原料是科学界备受争议的话题，这主要是由于能源危机的不断加剧以及由此引发的生态问题。作为一种可持续能源，生物柴油是石油燃料的最佳替代品。在这种情况下，由于其环保性和成本效益，非食用产油种子可能成为生物柴油生产的潜在来源。因此，本研究利用扫描电子显微镜对 6 种新型非食用含油种子的微观形态特征进行了调查和鉴定，以期将其作为潜在的生物柴油原料。光学显微镜观察结果表明，种子的宽度在 0.3 至 1.3 厘米之间，长度在 0.5 至 1.5 厘米之间。此外，种子颜色也存在较大差异，从深褐色、黑色到各种浅棕色均有。种子的游离脂肪酸含量在 0.3-4.1mg KOH/g 之间，种子油含量在 30-65%（w/w）之间。扫描电子显微镜介导的种子超微结构研究显示，种子的大小、形状、颜色、周壁形状和纹饰等方面存在较大差异。所有种子的形状均为圆形、椭圆形、卵形、长圆形、扁平形和椭圆形。种子壁结构的差异较大，有角形、全缘形、不规则形、直形、伸长形、光滑形和多边形。周壁排列从平坦形、凹陷形、凸起形、光滑形、五角形、泡状形和粗糙形都有。本研究结果表明，扫描电子显微镜可以作为一种有益的工具，揭示各种非食用产油种子中隐藏的微观形态特征，从而有助于未来的探索、正确鉴定、种子分类和认证。
