A study of the cell wall mechanical properties in unhyperhydrated shoots of oregano (origanum vulgare)inoculated withpseudomonas sp. by load deformation analysis

Elite oregano clonal lines are being targeted by our laboratory for food preservative and nutraceutical applications. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) shoot clones inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. resulted in increased phenolics, reduced hyperhydricity, better tolerance to environmental stress and better adaptability when compared to uninoculated control. In order to confirm the qualitative and biochemical observations related to potential lignification and cellulose build up, we have conducted mechanical load deformation analysis using a TEXTURE ANALYZER (extensometer) instrument after killing the shoots in boiling methanol and thereby removing the internal turgor pressure, instead of directly quantifying the lignin content by chemical methods. Protocol in this study was different in that we have used peak force upon rupture, breaking strain, deformability modulus and toughness parameters as the key criteria for demonstrating whether Pseudomonas ‐ induced unhyperhydrated shoots were stronger than the c...