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Sorghum Root Silicification
In sorghum roots we find silica aggregares at the inner thick wall of the endodermis. Following the silica deposition by electron microscopy while manipulating the root growing environment help us to understand how the deposition occurs.
We discovered a specialized lignin deposition that initiate the aggregation of silica in the endodermis of sorghum.
N. Zexer, R. Elbaum, J Exp Bot 71 (2020) 6818–6829.
A cross section in sorghum seedling (A), and magnifications of the endodermis (marked in a red square). Silica aggregates in the endodermis (e) are imaged by light (B) and scanning electron (C) microscopes. (D) No silica aggregation is detected in roots grown without silicic acid. Scale bars: A=50 µm, B, C, D=10 µm.
Lignin auto-fluorescence in sorghum root endodermis. Blue (A,D), green (B,E) and combined (C,F) autofluorescence of the lignin in sorghum roots grown with (left) and without (right) Si supplementation. Arrows point to a silica aggregate (left, blue lignin) in roots fed by silicic acid, or putative silica aggregation site (right, green lignin) in roots starved of silicic acid.
Rivka
Elbaum's
Lab
The RH Smith Institute for Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot 7610001
Israel
Room 2118 bldg. A
Email: rivka.elbaum@mail.huji.ac.il Phone: +972(0)8-948-9335
Fax: +972(0)8-948-9889
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