Summary
Mineral distribution in the roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Wheaton) was investigated using X-ray microanalysis of bulk frozen hydrated roots in SEM and of freeze substituted sections in TEM. Results obtained using the two methods agreed reasonably well. A total often elements were detected: Na, Mg, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, and Fe. Of these Si, P, Ca, and Mn were incorporated into biomineralized structures. Silica was deposited in the endodermal walls in the older parts of the root. Silicon was also detected in the large central metaxylem lumina in the basal zone of the root, and in the smaller peripheral metaxylem and the immediately contiguous pericycle and outer parenchyma cells bridging the small metaxylem vessels to the endodermal layer. In the basal zone of the root some of the inner cortical cells contained intracellular electron opaque deposits. These were associated with the cell walls, had non-opaque inclusions and microanalysis revealed that they consisted of calcium, phosphorus and manganese.
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Abbreviations
- A:
-
apical zone of root
- M:
-
midzone of root
- B:
-
basal zone of root
- SEM:
-
scanning electron microscope
- TEM:
-
transmission electron microscope
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Hodson, M.J., Sangster, A.G. Subcellular localization of mineral deposits in the roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Protoplasma 151, 19–32 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01403298
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01403298