Silicon Uptake and Localisation in Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) - A Unique Association With Sclerenchyma.

ABSTRACT: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) can accumulate as much as 1% silicon (Si), but not much is known about the mechanisms inherent to this process. Here, we investigated in detail the uptake, accumulation and distribution of Si in date palms, and the phylogeny of Si transporter genes in plants. We characterized the PdNIP2 transporter following heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes and used qPCR to determine the relative expression of Si transporter genes. Silicon accumulation and distribution was investigated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray microanalysis and Raman microspectroscopy. We proved that PdNIP2-1 codes for a functional Si-permeable protein and demonstrated that PdNIP2 transporter genes were constitutively expressed

SUBMITTER: Bokor B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6701203 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature