IN-VIVO MAGNETIC-RESONANCE STUDY OF THE HISTOCHEMISTRY OF COCONUT (COCOS-NUCIFERA)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and localized proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) techniques have been applied for studying different maturation p rocesses in the histochemistry of coconut (Cocos nucifera). Images of the tender and mature coconut are characterized by protons of the aque ous solution present in the cavity and from the surrounding pulp, wher eas the image of the dry coconut is from the protons of the fat presen t in the pulp. Localized proton MR spectra of the water present in the cavity from the tender and the mature coconut show several resonances due to different chemical constituents of coconut water, whereas typi cal spectra of the pulp from dry coconut reveal a profile of the hydro gens present in the saturated and unsaturated fatty acid chains. In ad dition, images obtained from a rancid coconut show the extent of inter nal damage and degradation due to fungal growth; the corresponding loc alized MR spectra of the coconut water reveal that several proton reso nances are absent.