Morphology, Diversity and Frequency Based Exploration of Phytoliths in Pennisetum typhoides Rich

Abstract

Pennisetum typhoides of the family Poaceae is one of the major cereal crop of India which accumulates silica in the form of phytoliths. Silica which forms phytoliths in the plants protects the plant from various biotic and abiotic stresses. Silica also offers durability stiffness and mechanical support to the leaves and stem. Present paper reveals the morphology, diversity, and frequency of opal phytoliths in the leaves, leaf sheaths, stems, and inflorescence of Pennisetum typhoides. A range of phytolith types are present in all parts of the plant, which are very characteristic and may be useful in the taxonomic identification of the plant. While other forms include the epidermal long cells, long micro hairs, parallelepipedal, prickle micro hairs, stomata, bulliform, trapezoids phytoliths, the most common one is the bilobate phytolith.