Journal
PLANT BIOLOGY
Volume 18, Issue 6, Pages 1025-1030Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/plb.12488
Keywords
Amorphous silica; biomineralisations; Bothriochloa laguroides; first photosynthetic leaf; silicophytoliths; structural reinforcement
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Funding
- Agencia Nacional de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnologica [PICT 1583/13]
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata [EXA 643/13, EXA 741/15]
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Grasses accumulate high amounts of silica deposits in tissues of all their organs, especially at mature stage. However, when and under which conditions do grass seedlings begin to produce these silica deposits and their relation with anatomy and development is little known. Here we investigated the silicification process in the first leaves and roots of seedlings of Bothriochloa laguroides grown in different substrate and Si treatments. The distribution and content of silica deposits in the organs of the seedlings grown under different conditions were analyzed through staining techniques and SEM-EDAX analyses. Leaf silica deposits were accumulated 3-4 days after the first leaf emergence, also under low silica solution (0.17-0.2 mM). Their location was mainly restricted to short costal cells from basal sectors, and scarcely in trichomes and xylem at tips. Silica content in leaves increased with the age of the seedlings. Roots presented dome-shaped silica aggregates, between 4-12 mu m of diameter, located in the inner tangential wall of endodermal cells and similar to those produced at maturity. Silicification begins early in the first photosynthetic leaf, and silica distribution is opposite to that found in mature plants, mainly restricted to basal sectors, probably acting as a reinforcing element. The fast incorporation of solid amorphous silica in leaves and roots, may be useful for farm applications in species that are Si-fertilized.
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