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Abstract Detail


Developmental and Structural Section

Ingram, Brian R. [1], Cote, Gary G. [1].

Ultrastructure of Calcium Oxalate Crystals from Dieffenbachia seguine (Araceae).

Many plants, especially in the Araceae, have idioblast cells which produce crystals of calcium oxalate. There have been many reports of crystals, primarily from leaves, but also from other plant parts, studied by light and/or electron microscopy. We have earlier reported (Cote, 2009, American Journal of Botany 96:1245-1254) a systematic survey, by light and polarization microscopy, of the crystals of all parts of the aroid Dieffenbachia seguine. Crystals of diverse sizes and shapes were found throughout this plant. We here extend this work by reporting the ultrastructure of crystals from the vegetative tissues of D. seguine as determined by scanning electron microscopy. Crystals were either isolated from the tissues by grinding and then washed, or exposed in situ by fracturing dried tissue. The diversity of crystals seen at the light microscopy level was echoed at the electron microscopy level. We are continuing this work by examining the ultrastructure of the crystals from reproductive tissues.

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1 - Radford University, Biology, 501 Stockton St., Radford, VA, 24142, USA

Keywords:
Calcium oxalate
Dieffenbachia
Araceae
crystals
Ultrastructure.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Battelle South/Convention Center
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PDS007
Abstract ID:367


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