Cuticle architecture and mechanical properties: a functional relationship delineated through correlated multimodal imaging

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.18862
• Publication Date: 2023-03-04T05:35:20Z
• Authors: Nicolas Reynoud; Nathalie Geneix; Angelina D'Orlando; Johann Petit; Jeremie Mathurin; Ariane Deniset‐Be...; Didier Marion; Christophe Rothan; Marc Lahaye; Bénédicte Bakan
• Keywords: Cuticle (hair); Plant cuticle; Biomimetics

Summary Cuticles are multifunctional hydrophobic biocomposites that protect the aerial organs of plants. During plant development, cuticles must accommodate different mechanical constraints combining extensibility and stiffness, corresponding relationships with their architecture unknown. Recent data showed a fine‐tuning cuticle during fruit several chemical clusters which raise question how they impact properties cuticles. We investigated in‐depth nanomechanical tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) from early development to ripening, in relation structural heterogeneities by developing correlative multimodal imaging approach. Unprecedented sharps were evidenced including an gradient ‘soft’ central furrow maintained throughout despite overall increase elastic modulus. In addition, we demonstrated these local areas correlated gradients. This study shed light on through modulation architecture, providing new insight for our understanding structure–function design bioinspired material.