The use of image processing in observing the effect of applied stress on onion epidermal cellular structures

Abstract

This paper describes the use of image processing tools to study applied stress on biological cells. The cells investigated were taken from onion epidermal layers. These were chosen because they are all similar in size and shape i.e. almost long thin rectangles with well-defined intercellular walls. The paper describes samples preparation, the way in which data is captured and how it is processed to obtain local strain values on a cell by cell basis. The paper concludes with a discussion of the importance of the observations and how the data can be further improved.