| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1589067 | Micron | 2013 | 5 Pages |
•Ultrastructural features of shelled and unshelled cashew kernels are investigated.•SEM images demonstrated a tight lignified palisade layer beneath the exocarp surface.•Mesocarp contains large secretory cavities that confer its spongy nature.•Lipid components are exhibited as oil droplets released from parenchyma.•Outer surface of samples presented an intense and viable Aspergillus infestation.
Cashew nuts have many attributes, including sensory, nutritional and health appeal, which contribute to their worldwide acceptance. We demonstrate details of the microstructure of shelled and unshelled cashew kernels with regard to pericarp and cotyledon organization. This study also provides evidence of the colonization of these kernels by filamentous fungi. Nuts were examined by scanning electron and confocal scanning laser microscopy. Staining with acridine orange was performed. A tight lignified palisade layer adjacent to the exocarp surface explains the hardness of the shell's pericarp. The mesocarp contains large secretory cavities that confer a spongy property to this tissue. Papillose cells, which are responsible for secreting CNSL (cashew nutshell liquid), were observed to cover the inner wall of these cavities. Lipid components are readily released from the parenchyma and appear as oil droplets. The outer surface of the shelled samples exhibited a dense Aspergillus infestation.
