title: AFM relative stiffness measurement of the plasticising effect of a non-ionic surfactant on plant leaf wax.
abstract: An AFM relative stiffness technique was applied to reconstituted Beta vulgaris L. wax films. Consecutive force arrays (n=100) made on the waxy surface at the same locations showed that there was no relative change in surface elasticity and this information was used as a reference to further experimental measurements. A surfactant solution was subsequently dropped on the waxy surface and the same array of indents was made at the same location as the reference test. The plant wax surface showed a reduction in its surface elasticity properties. The study has demonstrated that the AFM technique could be used to undertake a systematic assessment of the plasticising effects of agrochemicals on native and reconstituted plant wax films.
authors.affiliation: Biological Physics Laboratory, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Manchester, Schuster Building, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Twigg
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Jian R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010968:Plasticizers; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014885:Waxes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010968:Plasticizers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014885:Waxes