Calcium Deposition in Idioblasts of Mulberry Leaves

Large, rounded idioblasts were observed in adaxial leaves ofmulberry plants; they were clearly distinguishable from epidermal,trichome and parenchyma cells. The size and density of idioblastsvaried according to leaf age. Cytological features of idioblastswere as follows: the outermost region (‘cap’) ofidioblasts was situated on the adaxial surface as a dome-likeprotrusion; a cylindrical protuberance extended from the capregion to the inner part of the idioblast; in idioblasts frommature leaves a crystal mass was suspended from the lower tipof the cylindrical protuberance. Elemental analysis of idioblastsdemonstrated that silicon (Si) was localized in both the capregion and the cylindrical protuberance but calcium (Ca) waspresent in the large crystal, indicating site-specific cellularlocalization of Ca and Si within an idioblast. Histochemicalassays showed that a distinct Ca crystal filled the vacuolesof idioblasts in mature leaves, while immature leaves had manyidioblasts without Ca deposition. The increase in the Ca contentof leaves was directly proportional to the increase in leafage and appeared to be closely related to the Ca sink capacityof the developing idioblast vacuoles. The maximum sink capacitywas quantified to be approximately 40 ng per idioblast whenmulberry plants were grown hydroponically with excess Ca.Copyright1999 Annals of Botany Company Morus alba, idioblast, Ca deposition, Ca sink capacity, silicon, X-ray microanalysis, histochemistry, scanning electron microscopy.