Light and Electron Microscopic Characterization of Husk from Korean Rice

Microscopic techniques were used to observe the microstructure of rice husk. Microscopic examination showed that two main components of husk, lemma and palea consisted of outer epidermis, layers of fibers, vascular bundles, parenchyma cells, and inner epidermis, in sequence from the outer to the inner surface. The outer epidermal walls were extremely thick, highly convoluted and lignified. The underlying fibers were also thick-walled and lignified. Parenchyma cells were thin-walled and unlignified. Inner epidermal cells were also unlignified. The outer surface of both lemma and palea were conspicuously ridged, but the lower surface had a flat appearance. As part of a detailed study to characterize rice husk using microscopic and micro-analytical techniques, distribution of silica was also examined, and is presented elsewhere. Rice husk can potentially be used as a raw material for making composite products and the observations presented here form valuable background information for our future work related to product development.