Pollen coat prevents dehydration: plants

The pollen grains of seed plants are protected from dehydration via a hard coat.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Loss of liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Packaging that prevents desiccation of food products and other perishables, storing vaccines and other perishable medicines, containers to keep organs for transplant hydrated.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The gymnosperms, and the flowering plants which evolved more recently, among other, much smaller groups, have developed pollen which carries the male gamete in a form protected from dehydration to special receptive structures in the female part of the flower (pollination)." (Cutler 2005:96)

About the inspiring organism

Plantae
Plantae

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Packaging that prevents desiccation of food products and other perishables, storing vaccines and other perishable medicines, containers to keep organs for transplant hydrated.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Food, packaging, public health, medicine

Experts

Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
David F. Cutler

References

Cutler, DF. 2005. Design in plants. In: Collins, MW; Atherton, MA; Bryant, JA, editors. Nature and Design. Southampton, Boston: WIT Press. p 95-124

Pollen coat prevents dehydration: plants

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