Microscopic Image of Trichomes on the Skin of an Immature Cucumber (IMAGE)
Caption
The photograph is a microscopic image (magnification 800X) of the skin of an immature cucumber. Fruits and vegetables are most vulnerable to predators when they are immature. Cucumbers have developed two powerful mechanisms to protect themselves against most herbivores. The first is to grow closely arranged trichomes on their outer skin. The trichomes' sharp distal points are 40 times thinner than a sewing needle and can penetrate either the bodies or mouthparts of herbivores. The second relates to the lower, globular part of the trichome which contains toxic and bitter substances called cucurbiticins that repulse or kill invaders. Cucurbiticins are the most bitter substances known. Humans can detect the presence of cucurbiticins even when they are diluted to one part in a billion. This is the Photography- Honorable Mention, Microscopic image of trichomes on the skin of an immature cucumber.
Credit
Image courtesy of Robert Rock Belliveau, M.D.
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