Biophysical properties of plant surface waxes: Composition, morphology, responsive properties and functionality

陆地植物长出了一层连续的、薄的、像皮肤一样的层，叫做角质层，这是一种复合材料，其框架几乎完全由碳氢化合物聚合物和脂质层构成，称为“蜡”。这些成分蜡形成了一层覆盖在种子表面的膜，作为一层具有多种功能的天然屏障，包括保护植物免受危险和调节水分流失。这种保护性屏障的作用尚未得到充分的探索，鉴于粮食安全的重要性，了解种子表面的特性对农业和食品工业非常重要。这项工作将研究主要作物谷物的组成、形态和功能特性，并分析它们是如何产生的。正如之前的研究所示，不同的种子具有不同的表面特性，本项目旨在研究不同种子独特的表面特性和蜡的化学成分，以及它们如何对种子的整体功能做出贡献。在对原生种子的表面进行调查之后，利用真实种子的化学特征来设计模型系统，以确定表面功能的起源。

Land plants have developed a continuous, thin, skin-like layer called a cuticle, a composite material with a framework made almost entirely of hydrocarbon polymers and lipid layers called `waxes'. These many component waxes create a membrane that coats the seed, acting a natural barrier with many functions, including protecting the plant from dangers and regulating water loss. The role that this protective barrier has is relatively unexplored and an understanding of the properties of seed surfaces is of great importance to the agricultural and food industries given the importance of food security. This work will investigate the compositional, morphological and functional properties of major crop grains and analyse how they arise. As shown in previous research, different seeds are seen to have contrasting surface properties, this project aims to investigate different seeds unique surface properties and wax chemical composition, and how they each contribute to the overall seed's functionality. Following investigation into the surfaces of native seeds, model systems are designed utilising chemical profiles of real seeds to determine the origins of the surface functionality.