Anatomical, chemical, and mechanical properties of fibrovascular bundles of Salacca (Snake Fruit) frond

This research presents the anatomical, chemical, and mechanical properties of fibro-vascular bundles (FVBs) from two species of Salacca (snake fruit) frond: Salaccca sumatrana Becc. and Salacca zalacca Gaert (Voss). The anatomical properties were observed in the cross-section by light microscopy and digital microscopy. The anatomical observation focused on the location of the inner and outer vascular system. In the chemical analysis, FVBs were characterized for cellulose, hemicellulose, Klason lignin, and extractive content. Tensile strength and Young's modulus were investigated, and the structural implications were considered. The FVBs from salacca frond contained vascular tissue in the cross section had new and different vascular type. Generally, the vascular tissue has a wider area than the sclerenchyma tissue. The FVBs of S. sumatrana and S. zalacca contained 41.75 and 44.60 wt cellulose, 31.36 and 36.39 wt hemicellulose, and 27.90 and 33.00 wt lignin, respectively. The hot water solubility and ethanol-toluene solubility of FVBs of S. sumatrana and S. zalacca showed that extractive content were 2.96 wt and 5.55 wt; 18.54 wt and 25.00 wt., respectively. As the diameter of FVBs increased, the tensile strength and Young's modulus decreased. Increased FVB density will directly increase tensile strength and Young's modulus. Based on the result, it was concluded that the FVBs of salacca type had significantly different properties compared to other palms' FVBs, and this study confirmed the correlation between the physical and mechanical properties of the FVBs from salacca frond.