Summary
Electron-probe X-ray microanalysis showed that significant amounts of silicon are accumulated in the entire epidermal system of the rice internode except in the stomatal apparatuses. Thus, there is a lack of specific sites for Si deposition from levels just above the base to the tip of the rice internode. In the intercalary meristem region, 1 cm above the base of the internode, point-count data indicate more Si accumulation in the dumb-bell shaped silica cells than in the long epidermal cells. Above this region, Si is accumulated essentially in a uniform pattern in all epidermal cells. Such a pattern for Si accumulation in rice internodes markedly contrasts with that for Avena internodes and may explain, in part, why rice plants have a higher percentage Si (dry weight basis) in their shoots. The adaptive significance of this silicification pattern in rice is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Jones, L. P. H., Milne, A. A.: Studies of silica in the oat plant. I. Chemical and physical properties of the silica. Plant and Soil 18, 207–220 (1963).
Juliano, J. B., Aldama, M. J.: Morphology of Oryza sativa L. Philippine Agriculturist 26, 1–134 (1937).
Kaufman, P. B., Bigelow, W. C., Petering, L. B., Drogosz, F. B.: Silica in develo** epidermal cells of Avena internodes: Electron microprobe analysis. Science 166, 1015–1017 (1969).
Kaufman, P. B., Bigelow, W. C., Schmid, R., Ghosheh, N. S.: Electron microprobe analysis of silica in epidermal cells of Equisetum. Amer. J. Bot. 58, 309–316 (1971a).
Kaufman, P. B., Soni, S. L., Bigelow, W. C., Ghosheh, N. S.: Scanning electron microscopy of the leaf and internodal epidermis of rice plant (Oryza sativa L.). Phytomorphology, in press (1971 b).
Laroche, J.: Contribution à l'étude de l'Equisetum arvense L. III. Recherches sur la nature la localisation de la silice chez le sporophyte. Rev. gén. Bot. 75, 65–116 (1968).
Laroche, J.: État de la silice sur et dans la membrane épidermique des organes aériens stériles d'Equisetum arvense L. Rev. gén. Bot. 76, 483–489 (1969).
Laroche, J., Guervin, C., Lecoq, C., Dao, Vo Thi. Intérêt taxinomique de l'excrétion siliceuse chez les Equisétacées. C.R.Acad. Sci. (Paris) 270, 2958–2960 (1970).
Lewin, J. C., Reimann, B. E. F.: Silicon and plant growth. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 20, 289–304 (1969).
Siegel, S. M.: Biochemistry of the plant cell wall. In: M. Florkin and E. H. Stotz (eds.) Comprehensive biochemistry vol. 26, p. 1–51. (1968). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Soni, S. L., Kaufman, P. B., Bigelow, W. C.: Electron microprobe analysis of the distribution of silicon in leaf epidermal cells of the oat plant (Avena sativa L.). Phytomorphology 20, 348–361 (1970).
Soni, S. L., Kaufman, P. B., Bigelow, W. C.: Electron probe analysis of silicon and other elements of leaf epidermal cells of the rice plant (Oryza sativa L.). Amer. J. Bot. 59, 38–42 (1972a).
Soni, S. L., Kaufman, P. B., Jones, R. A.: Electron microprobe analysis of the distribution of silicon in rice leaf epidermis. Bot. Gaz., in press (1972b).
Yoshida, S., Ohnishi, Y., Kitagishi, K.: Chemical forms, mobility and deposition of silicon in rice plant. Soil Sci. and Plant Nutrition 8, 15–21 (1962a).
Yoshida, S., Ohnishi, Y., Kitagishi, K.: Histochemistry of silicon in rice plant. II. Localization of silicon within rice tissues. Soil Sci. and Plant Nutrition 8, 36–41 (1962b).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaufman, P.B., Soni, S.L., LaCroix, J.D. et al. Electron-probe microanalysis of silicon in the epidermis of rice (Oryza sativa L.) internodes. Planta 104, 10–17 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387680
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387680