Silicon Deposition in the Inflorescence Bristles and Macrohairs of Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.

Silicon deposits in the inflorescence bristles subtending eachspikelet, and in the macrohairs of foxtail millet (Setaria italica(L.) Beauv.) were investigated using scanning electron microscopyand electron-probe microanalysis. High concentrations of silicon were detected in the pricklehairs which covered the bristles. In the unicellular macrohairscovering the inflorescence axis and its branches, silicon wasdeposited along the whole length of the hairs. The mechanisms by which silicification may have taken place,and the possibility that the bristles and macrohairs are involvedin the aetiology of oesophageal cancer in N. China are discussed. Setaria italica (L.) Beauv., foxtail millet, millet, silicon deposits, silicification, prickle hairs, scanning electron microscopy, electron-probe microanalysis