Temperature-induced self-sealing capability of Banksia follicles

• Published in: Journal of the Royal Society interface Vol. 15; no. 143; p. 20180190
• Main Authors: Huss, Jessica C., Spaeker, Oliver, Gierlinger, Notburga, Merritt, David J., Miller, Ben P., Neinhuis, Christoph, Fratzl, Peter, Eder, Michaela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Royal Society 01-06-2018; The Royal Society Publishing
• Subjects: Bioinspired Materials; Biomimetics; Fire; Follicles; Fruits; Hot Temperature; Life Sciences–Physics interface; Melt temperature; Melting; Models, Biological; Plant tissues; Plants (botany); Proteaceae - metabolism; Sealing; Seeds; Seeds - metabolism; Self-Sealing; Serotiny; Structural integrity; Temperature; Temperature effects; Valves; Viability; Waxes; Waxes - metabolism; self-sealing; serotiny; fire; bioinspired materials; Banksia
• ISSN: 1742-5689; 1742-5662
• DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0190

Many plants in fire-prone regions retain their seeds in woody fruits in the plant canopy until the passage of a fire causes the fruit to open and release the seeds. To enable this function, suitable tissues are required that effectively store and protect seeds until they are released. Here, we show that three different species of the Australian genus Banksia incorporate waxes at the interface of the two valves of the follicle enclosing the seeds, which melt between 45°C and 55°C. Since the melting temperature of the waxes is lower than the opening temperatures of the follicles in all investigated species (B. candolleana, B. serrata, B. attenuata), we propose that melting of these waxes allows the sealing of micro-fissures at the interface of the two valves while they are still closed. Such a self-sealing mechanism likely contributes to the structural integrity of the seed pods, and benefits seed viability and persistence during storage on the plants. Furthermore, we show in a simplified, bioinspired model system that temperature treatments seal artificially applied surface cuts and restore the barrier properties.