Methods for characterizing plant fibers

✍ Scribed by Natasha Cruthers; Debra Carr; Brian Niven; Elizabeth Girvan; Raechel Laing

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 202 KB
• Volume: 67
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1059-910X
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20206

✦ Synopsis

The effectiveness of different microscopy techniques for measuring the dimensions of ultimate fibers from harakeke (Phormium tenax, New Zealand flax) was investigated using a factorial experimental design. Constant variables were geographical location, location of specimens along the leaf, season (winter), individual plant, a fourth leaf from a north-facing fan, age of plant, and cultivars (two). Experimental variables were microscopy techniques and measurement axis. Measurements of width and length of harakeke ultimate fibers depended on the microscopic preparation/technique used as well as the cultivar examined. The best methods were (i) transverse sections of leaf specimens 4 lm thick, embedded in Paraplast 1 and observed using light microscopy, and (ii) nonfixed ultimate fibers observed using scanning electron microscopy.