Abstract
Phytoliths (siliceous structures) present in the plants have been employed in the fields of taxonomy and archaeology for many decades. Rostraria cristata is an economically important grass species (Poaceae) which accumulates silica in its different organs in the form of phytoliths. In order to understand the pattern of phytolith production and biochemical architecture of silica in R. cristata, leaf epidermis (blade) using the clearing solution method and different organs using the dry ashing method, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy techniques were analyzed. Both abaxial and adaxial leaf epidermis showed the presence of acute bulbosus, rectangular sinuate and stomata phytolith morphotypes. Leaf including sheath and blade had the highest silica content. Characteristic phytolith morphotypes were present in different organs. A total of 34 phytolith morphotypes were present among which nine (9) were articulated and 25 were isolated forms. The most abundant were elongate scrobiculate (48.20%) in root and rectangular sinuate (26.16%) in leaf part. Other common phytolith morphotypes present in different organs of R. cristata were articulated elongate irregular, articulated elongate scrobiculate, acute bulbosus, and polygonal rondel etc. Leaf and synflorescence had the highest similarity based on presence/absence of phytolith morphotypes (Jaccard’s similarity index). XRD studies revealed the presence of cristobalite, quartz, tridymite, zeolite etc. forms of silica in different organs. FTIR spectra showed that inplane stretching vibration of Si–C was unique to root, anti-symmetric stretching vibration of C–H was unique to leaf and Al2O3.SiO2 was found in synflorescence only. Our results show the characteristic pattern of phytoliths production in R. cristata.
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The authors are thankful to the Department of Chemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar for providing instrumentation facility for FTIR and XRD analysis.
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PC and ASS conceived and designed the experiments. PC performed the experiments. PC and MAB contributed to the sample collection. PC, PB and SAS contributed in data analysis. PC wrote the manuscript. ASS and BAM supervised the work. All the authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript. The authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Chowdhary, P., Badgal, P., Bhat, M.A. et al. Phytoliths analysis in root, culm, leaf and synflorescence of Rostraria cristata (Poaceae). J Plant Res 136, 787–801 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-023-01485-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-023-01485-1