Life Sciences Commons^™

Ultrastructural Study Of Yam Tuber As Related To Postharvest Hardness, L. Sealy, S. Renaudin, D. J. Gallant, B. Bouchet, J. M. Brillouet

Food Structure

Usually, parenchyma cell walls of monocotyledons do not develop secondary walls; however a few days after harvesting, the yam tuber of Dioscorea dumetorum starts to harden. Two or three weeks Iater, hardness is so pronounced that the tubers cannot be eaten, even after a long cooking time.

Cytochemical studies using autofluorescence or some fluorescent dyes, such as phloroglucinol hydrochloride showed that the thin, and flexible cell walls of parenchyma tubers very quickly became fully lignified after harvesting. Ultrastructura 1 stud ies of the hardened ce 11 wa 11 s showed very thick secondary wa 11 s and very deep pit …

Ultrastructural Studies On The Cultivation Processes And Growth And Development Of The Cultivated Mushroom Agaricus Bisporus, D. A. Wood, G. D. Craig, P. T. Atkey, R. J. Newsam, K. Gull

Food Structure

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) , transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy have been used to study various processes in the cultivation of the edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus . Mushrooms are cultured on composted wheat straw. The microbial degradation processes during composting have been visualised by TEM and SEM and correlated with microbiological studies . Various modes of attack by the microorganisms on the plant cell walls can be seen. Most rapid degradation occurred on the cuticle and phloem and spread to other cell types. Microbial attack was found to be nonuniform between tissue types and individual cells. The mycelium of …