Abstract
Ficus trees are adapted to diverse environments and have some of the highest rates of photosynthesis among trees. Ficus leaves can deposit one or more of the three major mineral types found in leaves: amorphous calcium carbonate cystoliths, calcium oxalates, and silica phytoliths. In order to better understand the functions of these minerals and the control that the leaf exerts over mineral deposition, we investigated leaves from 10 Ficus species from vastly different environments (Rehovot, Israel; Bologna, Italy; Issa Valley, Tanzania; and Ngogo, Uganda). We identified the mineral locations in the soft tissues, the relative distributions of the minerals, and mineral volume contents using microcomputed tomography. Each Ficus species is characterized by a unique 3D mineral distribution that is preserved in different environments. The mineral distribution patterns are generally different on the adaxial and abaxial sides of the leaf. All species examined have abundant calcium oxalate deposits around the veins. We used micromodulated fluorimetry to examine the effect of cystoliths on photosynthetic efficiency in two species having cystoliths abaxially and adaxially (Ficus microcarpa) or only abaxially (Ficus carica). In F. microcarpa, both adaxial and abaxial cystoliths efficiently contributed to light redistribution inside the leaf and, hence, increased photosynthetic efficiency, whereas in F. carica, the abaxial cystoliths did not increase photosynthetic efficiency.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1751-1763 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Plant Physiology |
| Volume | 176 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 1 2018 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Genetics
- Plant Science
Cite this
Mineral deposits in Ficus leaves : Morphologies and locations in relation to function. / Pierantoni, Maria; Tenne, Ron; Rephael, Batel; Brumfeld, Vlad; van Casteren, Adam; Kupczik, Kornelius; Oron, Dan; Addadi, Lia; Weiner, Steve.
In: Plant Physiology, Vol. 176, No. 2, 01.02.2018, p. 1751-1763.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mineral deposits in Ficus leaves
T2 - Morphologies and locations in relation to function
AU - Pierantoni, Maria
AU - Tenne, Ron
AU - Rephael, Batel
AU - Brumfeld, Vlad
AU - van Casteren, Adam
AU - Kupczik, Kornelius
AU - Oron, Dan
AU - Addadi, Lia
AU - Weiner, Steve
PY - 2018/2/1
Y1 - 2018/2/1
N2 - Ficus trees are adapted to diverse environments and have some of the highest rates of photosynthesis among trees. Ficus leaves can deposit one or more of the three major mineral types found in leaves: amorphous calcium carbonate cystoliths, calcium oxalates, and silica phytoliths. In order to better understand the functions of these minerals and the control that the leaf exerts over mineral deposition, we investigated leaves from 10 Ficus species from vastly different environments (Rehovot, Israel; Bologna, Italy; Issa Valley, Tanzania; and Ngogo, Uganda). We identified the mineral locations in the soft tissues, the relative distributions of the minerals, and mineral volume contents using microcomputed tomography. Each Ficus species is characterized by a unique 3D mineral distribution that is preserved in different environments. The mineral distribution patterns are generally different on the adaxial and abaxial sides of the leaf. All species examined have abundant calcium oxalate deposits around the veins. We used micromodulated fluorimetry to examine the effect of cystoliths on photosynthetic efficiency in two species having cystoliths abaxially and adaxially (Ficus microcarpa) or only abaxially (Ficus carica). In F. microcarpa, both adaxial and abaxial cystoliths efficiently contributed to light redistribution inside the leaf and, hence, increased photosynthetic efficiency, whereas in F. carica, the abaxial cystoliths did not increase photosynthetic efficiency.
AB - Ficus trees are adapted to diverse environments and have some of the highest rates of photosynthesis among trees. Ficus leaves can deposit one or more of the three major mineral types found in leaves: amorphous calcium carbonate cystoliths, calcium oxalates, and silica phytoliths. In order to better understand the functions of these minerals and the control that the leaf exerts over mineral deposition, we investigated leaves from 10 Ficus species from vastly different environments (Rehovot, Israel; Bologna, Italy; Issa Valley, Tanzania; and Ngogo, Uganda). We identified the mineral locations in the soft tissues, the relative distributions of the minerals, and mineral volume contents using microcomputed tomography. Each Ficus species is characterized by a unique 3D mineral distribution that is preserved in different environments. The mineral distribution patterns are generally different on the adaxial and abaxial sides of the leaf. All species examined have abundant calcium oxalate deposits around the veins. We used micromodulated fluorimetry to examine the effect of cystoliths on photosynthetic efficiency in two species having cystoliths abaxially and adaxially (Ficus microcarpa) or only abaxially (Ficus carica). In F. microcarpa, both adaxial and abaxial cystoliths efficiently contributed to light redistribution inside the leaf and, hence, increased photosynthetic efficiency, whereas in F. carica, the abaxial cystoliths did not increase photosynthetic efficiency.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041751754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85041751754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1104/pp.17.01516
DO - 10.1104/pp.17.01516
M3 - Article
C2 - 29242376
AN - SCOPUS:85041751754
VL - 176
SP - 1751
EP - 1763
JO - Plant Physiology
JF - Plant Physiology
SN - 0032-0889
IS - 2
ER -