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Mikroanalytische Identifikation von Bariumsulfat-Kristallen in den Statolithen der Rhizoide von Chara fragilis, Desv.

Microanalytical identification of barium sulphate crystals in statoliths of Chara rhizoids (Ch. fragilis, desv.)

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Summary

In contrast to the statocytes of higher plants, in which amyloplasts function as statoliths, Chara-rhizoids contain statolith vacuoles filled with biocrystallites of BaSO4. This was revealed by qualitative and quantitative electron microprobe analysis, atomic absorption spectrophotometry and selected area electron diffraction. The barium sulphate crystallites are rods which are linearly composed of globular subunits approximately 7 nm in diameter.

The electron optical evidence of the crystallites depends on the nature of the fixatives. Best structural preservation was observed after fixation in a buffered solution of glutaraldehyde plus acrolein without addition of heavy metals. OsO4 and particularly KMnO4 partially dissolve the biocrystallites as well as synthetic BaSO4. The crystal solubility must be taken into consideration when micrographs of such small crystallites are interpreted.

The fact that BaSO4 is chemically very inert seems to exclude biochemical interactions of the statoliths with other cell components during graviperception. It favours the theory that only the mass of the statoliths is effective.

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Author notes

  1. André Läuchli

    Present address: Botanisches Institut der Technischen Hochschule Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 3-5, D-6100, Darmstadt, Federal Republic of Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanisches Institut der Universität Bonn, Venusbergweg 22, D-5300, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany

    Klaus Schröter, André Läuchli & Andreas Sievers

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  1. Klaus Schröter
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  2. André Läuchli
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  3. Andreas Sievers
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Additional information

Erweiterter Teilabdruck einer Dissertation von K.S. (D5). Die Arbeit wurde durch Sachbeihilfen der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft an A.S. gefördert.

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Schröter, K., Läuchli, A. & Sievers, A. Mikroanalytische Identifikation von Bariumsulfat-Kristallen in den Statolithen der Rhizoide von Chara fragilis, Desv.. Planta 122, 213–225 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385269

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385269

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