Robust, universal, and persistent bud secretion adhesion in horse-chestnut trees

Abstract

AbstractBuds of horse-chestnut trees are covered with a viscous fluid, which remains sticky after long-term exposure to heat, frost, radiation, precipitation, deposition of aerosols and particles, attacks by microbes and arthropods. The present study demonstrates that the secretion does not dry out under arid conditions, not melt at 50 °C, and not change significantly under UV radiation or frost at a microscopic level. It is slightly swellable under wet conditions; and, it universally wets and adheres to substrates having different polarities. Measured pull-off forces do not differ between hydrophilic and lipophilic surfaces, ranging between 58 and 186 mN, and resulting in an adhesive strength up to 204 kPa. The mechanical and chemical properties of secretion resemble those of pressure-sensitive adhesives. The Raman, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra show the clear presence of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, free carboxylic acids, as well as minor amounts of amides and aromatic compounds. We suggest a multi-component material (aliphatic hydrocarbon resin), including alkanes, fatty acids, amides, and tackifying terpenoids embedded in a fluid matrix (fatty acids) comprising nonpolar and polar portions serving the universal and robust adhesive properties. These characteristics matter for ecological-evolutionary aspects and can inspire innovative designs of multifunctional, biomimetic pressure-sensitive adhesives and varnishes.

Autoren

Dagmar Voigt
Jaekang Kim
Anne Jantschke
Michael Varenberg

DOI

10.1038/s41598-020-74029-5

eISSN

2045-2322

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

1

Zeitschrift

Scientific Reports

Sprache

en

Artikelnummer

16925

Online publication date

2020

Status

Published online

Herausgeber

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Herausgeber URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74029-5

Datum der Datenerfassung

2022

Titel

Robust, universal, and persistent bud secretion adhesion in horse-chestnut trees

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

10

Data source: Crossref

Abstract

Buds of horse-chestnut trees are covered with a viscous fluid, which remains sticky after long-term exposure to heat, frost, radiation, precipitation, deposition of aerosols and particles, attacks by microbes and arthropods. The present study demonstrates that the secretion does not dry out under arid conditions, not melt at 50 °C, and not change significantly under UV radiation or frost at a microscopic level. It is slightly swellable under wet conditions; and, it universally wets and adheres to substrates having different polarities. Measured pull-off forces do not differ between hydrophilic and lipophilic surfaces, ranging between 58 and 186 mN, and resulting in an adhesive strength up to 204 kPa. The mechanical and chemical properties of secretion resemble those of pressure-sensitive adhesives. The Raman, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra show the clear presence of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, free carboxylic acids, as well as minor amounts of amides and aromatic compounds. We suggest a multi-component material (aliphatic hydrocarbon resin), including alkanes, fatty acids, amides, and tackifying terpenoids embedded in a fluid matrix (fatty acids) comprising nonpolar and polar portions serving the universal and robust adhesive properties. These characteristics matter for ecological-evolutionary aspects and can inspire innovative designs of multifunctional, biomimetic pressure-sensitive adhesives and varnishes.

Addresses

Institute for Botany, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany. dagmar.voigt@tu-dresden.de.

Autoren

Dagmar Voigt
Jaekang Kim
Anne Jantschke
Michael Varenberg

DOI

10.1038/s41598-020-74029-5

eISSN

2045-2322

Externe Identifier

PubMed Identifier: 33149168
PubMed Central ID: PMC7642395

Funding acknowledgements

Projekt DEAL:
European Cooperation in Science and Technology: ECOST-STSM-CA15216-45318

Open access

true

ISSN

2045-2322

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

1

Zeitschrift

Scientific reports

Schlüsselwörter

Aesculus
Plant Leaves
Cryoelectron Microscopy
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Spectrum Analysis
Temperature
Viscosity
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions

Sprache

eng

Medium

Electronic

Online publication date

2020

Open access status

Open Access

Paginierung

16925

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published

Publisher licence

CC BY

Datum der Datenerfassung

2020

Titel

Robust, universal, and persistent bud secretion adhesion in horse-chestnut trees.

Sub types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
research-article
Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

10

Files

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-74029-5.pdf https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7642395?pdf=render

Data source: Europe PubMed Central

Abstract

Buds of horse-chestnut trees are covered with a viscous fluid, which remains sticky after long-term exposure to heat, frost, radiation, precipitation, deposition of aerosols and particles, attacks by microbes and arthropods. The present study demonstrates that the secretion does not dry out under arid conditions, not melt at 50 °C, and not change significantly under UV radiation or frost at a microscopic level. It is slightly swellable under wet conditions; and, it universally wets and adheres to substrates having different polarities. Measured pull-off forces do not differ between hydrophilic and lipophilic surfaces, ranging between 58 and 186 mN, and resulting in an adhesive strength up to 204 kPa. The mechanical and chemical properties of secretion resemble those of pressure-sensitive adhesives. The Raman, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra show the clear presence of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, free carboxylic acids, as well as minor amounts of amides and aromatic compounds. We suggest a multi-component material (aliphatic hydrocarbon resin), including alkanes, fatty acids, amides, and tackifying terpenoids embedded in a fluid matrix (fatty acids) comprising nonpolar and polar portions serving the universal and robust adhesive properties. These characteristics matter for ecological-evolutionary aspects and can inspire innovative designs of multifunctional, biomimetic pressure-sensitive adhesives and varnishes.

Date of acceptance

2020

Autoren

Dagmar Voigt
Jaekang Kim
Anne Jantschke
Michael Varenberg

Autoren-URL

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33149168

DOI

10.1038/s41598-020-74029-5

eISSN

2045-2322

Externe Identifier

PubMed Central ID: PMC7642395

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

1

Zeitschrift

Sci Rep

Schlüsselwörter

Aesculus
Cryoelectron Microscopy
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Plant Leaves
Spectrum Analysis
Temperature
Viscosity

Sprache

eng

Country

England

Paginierung

16925

PII

10.1038/s41598-020-74029-5

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published online

Datum, an dem der Datensatz öffentlich gemacht wurde

2021

Titel

Robust, universal, and persistent bud secretion adhesion in horse-chestnut trees.

Sub types

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

10

Data source: PubMed

Robust, universal, and persistent bud secretion adhesion in horse-chestnut trees

Files

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