ELECTRON PROBE ANALYSIS OF SILICON AND OTHER ELEMENTS IN LEAF EPIDERMAL CELLS OF THE RICE PLANT (ORYZA SATIVA L.)

Abstract

By means of electron probe analysis, the effects of significant amounts of accumulation of silicon on the accumulation of calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, iron, and sodium in the silica cells of rice leaves are described. The silica cells of both the surfaces of the leaf blade and leaf sheath were studied. Silicon accumulation in the silica cells appears to decrease the amount of accumulation of potassium on both the surfaces of the leaf blade and sheath. The effect of significant amounts of silicon accumulation on the accumulation of other elements in a particular cell varies in different organs or on different surfaces of the organ of the same plant. Magnesium, manganese, iron, and phosphorus could not be detected in the adaxial epidermis of the leaf sheath and magnesium and iron in the adaxial epidermis of the leaf blade. Manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus were not detected in the abaxial epidermis of the leaf blade nor iron in the abaxial epidermis of the leaf sheath. Sodium was not revealed in either surface of the leaf blade and leaf sheath. Possible mechanisms for the effects of silicon accumulation on the accumulation of these elements in rice leaf epidermal cells are discussed.