A Study of Mechanical Behavior of Plant Vegetative Tissue

Abstract

The stress-strain behavior of vegetative tissue (cells) of fruits is an important factor in the freshness of these products during packaging. The cell–wall constitutive relation, internal pressure, cell geometry, and cell-to-cell mechanical interaction all affect the macroscopic stress-strain properties of the whole tissue. It is well known that rheology of the tissue is closely related to the rheology of the individual cells in the tissue. So, in order to improve the techniques for storing fruits and vegetables, the mechanical properties of cells must be well defined. So, the main objective of the study is to develop such a suitable model. The increase in turgor Pressure and relative volume on parenchyma cells of fruit or vegetable tissue is very important. Gates in (1986) described various models, describing cell-wall and stress-strain behavior in the form of Hook’s Law and calculated material constants using regression analysis for the above models. The turgor pressure measured in a given solution of manitol in apple and potato tissue.

Considering the various observations given in literature of cells and membranes in fruits and vegetable, we would like to observe Hart-Smith Model for fruits and vegetable cells in comparison to other models studied. The value of material constants also supports stress-stretch and pressure-volume inflation characteristics of spherical inflation of membrane. These results of mechanical characterization will definitely support improvement in storage of fruits and vegetable.