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Plants and Light Manipulation : The Integrated Mineral System in Okra Leaves

Pierantoni, Maria LU ; Tenne, Ron ; Brumfeld, Vlad ; Kiss, Vladimir ; Oron, Dan ; Addadi, Lia and Weiner, Steve (2017) In Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) 4(5). p.1600416-1600416
Abstract

Calcium oxalate and silica minerals are common components of a variety of plant leaves. These minerals are found at different locations within the leaf, and there is little conclusive evidence about the functions they perform. Here tools are used from the fields of biology, optics, and imaging to investigate the distributions of calcium oxalate, silica minerals, and chloroplasts in okra leaves, in relation to their functions. A correlative approach is developed to simultaneously visualize calcium oxalates, silica minerals, chloroplasts, and leaf soft tissue in 3D without affecting the minerals or the organic components. This method shows that in okra leaves silica and calcium oxalates, together with chloroplasts, form a complex system... (More)

Calcium oxalate and silica minerals are common components of a variety of plant leaves. These minerals are found at different locations within the leaf, and there is little conclusive evidence about the functions they perform. Here tools are used from the fields of biology, optics, and imaging to investigate the distributions of calcium oxalate, silica minerals, and chloroplasts in okra leaves, in relation to their functions. A correlative approach is developed to simultaneously visualize calcium oxalates, silica minerals, chloroplasts, and leaf soft tissue in 3D without affecting the minerals or the organic components. This method shows that in okra leaves silica and calcium oxalates, together with chloroplasts, form a complex system with a highly regulated relative distribution. This distribution points to a significant role of oxalate and silica minerals to synergistically optimize the light regime in the leaf. The authors also show directly that the light scattered by the calcium oxalate crystals is utilized for photosynthesis, and that the ultraviolet component of light passing through silica bodies, is absorbed. This study thus demonstrates that calcium oxalates increase the illumination level into the underlying tissue by scattering the incoming light, and silica reduces the amount of UV radiation entering the tissue.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
volume
4
issue
5
pages
1600416 - 1600416
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85013822267
  • pmid:28546910
ISSN
2198-3844
DOI
10.1002/advs.201600416
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
d7630000-d6a2-4514-a47b-379b9f0e5134
date added to LUP
2023-10-19 15:43:14
date last changed
2024-04-05 00:21:10
@article{d7630000-d6a2-4514-a47b-379b9f0e5134,
  abstract     = {{<p>Calcium oxalate and silica minerals are common components of a variety of plant leaves. These minerals are found at different locations within the leaf, and there is little conclusive evidence about the functions they perform. Here tools are used from the fields of biology, optics, and imaging to investigate the distributions of calcium oxalate, silica minerals, and chloroplasts in okra leaves, in relation to their functions. A correlative approach is developed to simultaneously visualize calcium oxalates, silica minerals, chloroplasts, and leaf soft tissue in 3D without affecting the minerals or the organic components. This method shows that in okra leaves silica and calcium oxalates, together with chloroplasts, form a complex system with a highly regulated relative distribution. This distribution points to a significant role of oxalate and silica minerals to synergistically optimize the light regime in the leaf. The authors also show directly that the light scattered by the calcium oxalate crystals is utilized for photosynthesis, and that the ultraviolet component of light passing through silica bodies, is absorbed. This study thus demonstrates that calcium oxalates increase the illumination level into the underlying tissue by scattering the incoming light, and silica reduces the amount of UV radiation entering the tissue.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pierantoni, Maria and Tenne, Ron and Brumfeld, Vlad and Kiss, Vladimir and Oron, Dan and Addadi, Lia and Weiner, Steve}},
  issn         = {{2198-3844}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1600416--1600416}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}},
  title        = {{Plants and Light Manipulation : The Integrated Mineral System in Okra Leaves}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/advs.201600416}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/advs.201600416}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}