Abstract
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) techniques have been used to detect the silicon bioavailability in the exocarp of warty cucumber surface. Warts appear at the time of anthesis and are remnant part of spines/trichomes which on further fruit maturation abscised from the exocarp. Results of EPMA and phytolith analysis clearly revealed that the surface of exocarp (fruit) of Cucumis sativus Linn. containing warts has greater quantity of silicon as compared to the other part of the fruit. Besides silicon, some other elements were also found, on the fruit exocarp and its surrounding area. The other elements are magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and sodium. The percentage of silica is highest followed by Ni, Ca, Al, P, Mg, Fe, S, Cu, K, and Cl. Thus, this study clearly demonstrates that Cucumis sativus Linn. fruits which are used as salads and appetizers on daily basis are loaded with silicon and other useful elements and possess numerous health benefits.
Highlights
Terrestrial vegetation is a vast sink for biogenic silica which is widely present in the soil and absorbed by plant in the form of silicic acid (Epstein 1999)
Bio-silica availability in warts of the Cucumis sativus Linn. fruit containing more warts on its surface was selected for the study (Fig. 1a)
It has been reported that Methyl Red successfully stained the phytoliths or silicified cells of the plants (Dayanandan et al 2005), so for more better view of silica/phytoliths, the warty part of the cucumber has been stained with Methyl Red (Fig. 1e) which shows some colored area that confirmed the deposition of silica on warty part
Summary
Terrestrial vegetation is a vast sink for biogenic silica which is widely present in the soil and absorbed by plant in the form of silicic acid (Epstein 1999). Silica is usually found in the plant bodies named as phytoliths or opal phytolith in which hydrogen get bonded with cellulose molecules in the cell walls as silicon dioxide, i.e., SiO2.nH2O (Kaufman et al 1999; Tripathi et al 2012a, b). Silica is not considered as an essential element for the plants in the classical sense, many studies demonstrated that silica is an important constituent of plant cell wall which provides rigidity to monocot leaves and it takes part in many physiological processes which increases plants resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses (Epstein 1999; Tripathi et al 2014, 2016, 2017). Silicon is a structural constituent of plants and it takes part in many physiological processes and provides protection from
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