Brillouin- and Raman-scattering of tomato fruit cuticles

The cuticular membrane (CM) is a protective layer on plants' aerial surfaces, crucial for water balance and environmental stress resistance. As plants grow, the cuticle expands significantly, requiring continuous synthesis of cutin and embedded waxes to maintain its integrity. This study examined tomato fruit cuticle micromechanics throughout development using a custom Raman- and Brillouin-scattering microscope. Samples were analyzed at various growth stages: 15, 25 days after anthesis, maturity, and red-ripe maturity. Brillouin light scattering revealed micromechanical variations correlating with chemical composition, enabling cuticle segmentation and analysis of mechanical contributions and developmental progression.