ISSN:
1615-6102
Keywords:
Calcium
;
Crystals
;
Energy dispersive X-ray analysis
;
Lemna minor
;
Oxalate
;
Strontium
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Lemna minor, which produces many calcium oxalate raphide crystals, was grown on media containing in addition to Ca, 200 μM of one of the following divalent cations: Ba, Cd, Co, Mn or Sr. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed that only Sr was incorporated into the raphides at levels detectable by the analysis technique. Incorporation of Sr into other insoluble compounds, such as cell wall material, could not be detected. Plant species which form different crystal types in their leaves (Beta vulgaris, crystal sand;Arthrostema ciliatum, druse;Glycine canescens, prismatic) also incorporated Sr into their crystals when grown hydroponically on nutrient medium containing 200 μM Sr. Axenic cultures ofL. minor were used to examine further the process of Sr incorporation into plant crystals. When grown on nutrient solution with 5 μM Ca, increasing the Sr concentration resulted in increases of the amount of Sr incorporated into the raphide crystals. The ratio of Sr to Ca became greater as the Sr concentration was increased. This ratio change was due to both an increase in the amount of Sr incorporated and a decrease in the Ca incorporated. Analysis of the number of crystal idioblasts formed as a function of Sr concentration shows fewer idioblasts are produced as Sr became high. Competition with Ca and interference of Ca utilization by Sr is indicated.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01276601
