植物晶体的形态结构、生物功能及形成机制研究进展

晶体是植物体内产生的一种具有特殊形态结构与生理功能的代谢物,其分布广泛,已在500多种植物中发现有晶体的存在。晶体形态多样,有针晶、柱晶、棱晶、砂晶、簇晶等;类型丰富,有草酸钙晶体、钟乳体、硅质体、硫酸钙晶体及其它类型的晶体;功能特殊,具有钙调节、植物保护和防御、重金属解毒、离子平衡、缓解逆境胁迫及其它多种生物功能。晶体的形成涉及钙离子的体外吸收和体内转运,草酸的生物合成,以及钙离子和草酸的耦合过程;晶体的生长发育涉及液泡、晶异细胞的调控及与其它细胞结构的相互协作。对晶体的研究进行综述,以期为晶体的进一步研究提供基础资料。

Current status of research on morphological structure, biological function and formation mechanism of plant crystals

Plant crystals are one of the metabolin that have peculiar morphological structure and physiological function. They are widespreading and have been found in more than 500 floristics. Crystals have multiple shapes, such as raphid, column crystal, prism, sand crystal and cluster crystal and have multifarious types, including crystals of calcium oxalate, cystolith, silicon plastid, calcium sulfate crystal etc. They also have significant functions, for instance, calcium regulating, plant defense and protection, detoxifing heavy metal, ionic equilibrium, increasing stress tolerance and others biological functions. The synthesis of crystal is associated with calcium ion absorbed in vitro and transported in vivo, the biosynthesis of oxalate, and the coupling process of calcium ion and oxalate. The growth and development of crystal has close relationship with interaction among vacuole, idioblast regulation, and others eucaryotic cell structures. Previous studies have been summarized in this paper in order to identify the areas of further research.