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The Involvement of Cork-Silica Cell Pairs in the Production of Wax Filaments in Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) Leaves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Chester G. McWhorter  and
Rex N. Paul
Chester G. McWhorter
Affiliation:
South. Weed Sci. Lab., U.S. Dep. Agric., Agric. Res. Serv., Stoneville, MS 38776
Rex N. Paul
Affiliation:
South. Weed Sci. Lab., U.S. Dep. Agric., Agric. Res. Serv., Stoneville, MS 38776
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Abstract

Wax filaments > 100 μm long on the epidermis of johnsongrass leaves and culms occurred only around the edge of costal cork-silica cell pairs and intercostal silica cells. Silica cells alternating with cork cells occurred in rows over veins. Solitary or occasionally paired cork-silica cells occurred between veins. The high silicon content of silica cells was verified with X-ray mapping of silicon. X-ray analysis also indicated that wax filaments contained silicon. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of dislodged intercostal silica cells showed that wax filaments emerged from an integument that surrounded the silica cell. It is theorized that at high ambient temperatures the silica gel in silica cells provides the localized cooling necessary to solidify liquid wax constituents as they are extruded onto the surface of the plant.

Keywords

JohnsongrassSorghum halepense (L.) Pers. ♯3 SORHASilica gelwax morphologyepicuticular waxsilica cellscork cellswax bloomanalytical electron microscopybackscatter
Type
Special Topics
Information
Weed Science , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , May 1989 , pp. 458 - 470
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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