Early silicification of leaves and roots of seedlings of a panicoid grass grown under different conditions: anatomical relation and structural role

BENVENUTO MARÍA LAURA; BORRELLI NATALIA; FERNÁNDEZ HONAINE MARIANA; OSTERRIETH MARGARITA

PLANT BIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 vol. 18 p. 1025 - 1030

1435-8603

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. We investigated the silicification process in the first leaves and roots of seedlings of Bothriochloa laguroides grown in different substrate and Si treatments. Distribution and content of silica deposits in the organs 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 (0.09-0.156 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 μm 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.