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Silicon in Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv: content, distribution, and ultrastructure

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Abstract

Silicon concentration, distribution, and ultrastructure of silicon deposits in the Poaceae Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. have been studied. This grass, known for its medicinal uses and also for Fe hyperaccumulation and biomineralization capacities, showed a concentration of silicon of 13,705 ± 9,607 mg/kg dry weight. Silicon was found as an important constituent of cell walls of the epidermis of the whole plant. Silica deposits were found in silica bodies, endodermis, and different cells with silicon-collapsed lumen as bulliforms, cortical, and sclerenchyma cells. Transmission electron microscope observations of these deposits revealed an amorphous material of an ultrastructure similar to that previously reported in silica bodies of other Poaceae.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the personnel of the Centro Nacional de Microcopía and the transmission electron microscopy service of the Centro de Biología Molecular. This study was supported by grant CTM2010-18456 from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. A. Franco is a Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación fellow.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. Biología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Lourdes Rufo, Alejandro Franco & Vicenta de la Fuente

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  1. Lourdes Rufo
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  2. Alejandro Franco
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  3. Vicenta de la Fuente
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Correspondence to Vicenta de la Fuente.

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Handling Editor: Alexander Schulz

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Rufo, L., Franco, A. & de la Fuente, V. Silicon in Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv: content, distribution, and ultrastructure. Protoplasma 251, 921–930 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-013-0594-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-013-0594-8

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