biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Ojo FMTrichomes are specialised epidermal structures on plant surfaces of plant aerial organs. They are integral to plant defence and adaptation. However, their elemental composition in Solanum species remains understudied. This research investigates the elemental composition of trichomes from five Solanum species, including representatives of the crops tomato and potato - Solanum berthaultii, Solanum galapagense, Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), Solanum pennellii, and Solanum tuberosum (potato) - using herbarium samples from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Samples were carbon coated and observed under the Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEG SEM). Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX/EDS) data were collected using an EDX detector. Results revealed significant variation in eleScientific reports15292https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12046004biostudies-literatureDetermining trichome elemental composition in Solanum wild and domesticated species using SEM-EDS.PMC12046004Ojo FMVendemiatti EJunior JLKumar-Mahto MBenedito VASimoes ARGfalseDetermining trichome elemental composition in Solanum wild and domesticated species using SEM-EDS.Trichomes are specialised epidermal structures on plant surfaces of plant aerial organs. They are integral to plant defence and adaptation. However, their elemental composition in Solanum species remains understudied. This research investigates the elemental composition of trichomes from five Solanum species, including representatives of the crops tomato and potato - Solanum berthaultii, Solanum galapagense, Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), Solanum pennellii, and Solanum tuberosum (potato) - using herbarium samples from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Samples were carbon coated and observed under the Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEG SEM). Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX/EDS) data were collected using an EDX detector. Results revealed significant variation in ele2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 May2025-07-08T03:12:47.991Z2025-07-08T03:12:47.991ZS-EPMC120460044031256510.1038/s41598-025-87643-y