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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 30, 2025

A Method to Preserve Wetland Roots and Rhizospheres for Elemental Imaging

A Method to Preserve Wetland Roots and Rhizospheres for Elemental Imaging

Published on: February 15, 2021

Silicification of Root Tissues.

Alexander Lux^1,2, Zuzana Lukačová¹, Marek Vaculík^1,3

¹Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

|January 19, 2020

Summary

Plants absorb silicon (Si) through roots, depositing it in various root tissues. This silicon accumulation in plant roots is primarily a response to environmental stresses.

Keywords:

abiotic and biotic stress cell wall endodermis phytoliths root silicon silicon transporters

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Last Updated: Dec 30, 2025

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Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Plant Physiology
Biogeochemistry

Background:

Silicon (Si) is abundant in soil but not classified as an essential element for plants.
Despite not being essential, Si accumulates to high concentrations in many plant species, often exceeding essential nutrient levels.
Plant roots actively absorb and translocate Si, with significant accumulation occurring within root tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the diverse modes of silicon deposition within plant root tissues.
To explore the ontogenesis of individual root cells involved in silicon accumulation.
To outline the known and potential roles of root silicon deposition, particularly in response to stress.

Main Methods:

Review and synthesis of existing literature on silicon deposition in plant roots.
Analysis of cellular and tissue-level silicon accumulation patterns.
Discussion of the developmental processes (ontogenesis) of silicon-accumulating root cells.

Main Results:

Identified three primary modes of Si deposition in roots: endodermal cell wall impregnation (cereals), Si-aggregates with endodermis (Andropogoneae), and stegmata cell aggregates (palms).
Highlighted less common Si deposition sites, including xylem cells and intercellular spaces.
Emphasized that Si accumulation in roots is largely a plant response to abiotic and biotic stresses.

Conclusions:

Root silicon deposition exhibits significant diversity across plant species, reflecting distinct evolutionary adaptations.
Understanding Si accumulation in roots is crucial for comprehending plant stress responses and potential agricultural applications.
Further research into the ontogenesis and functional roles of Si deposition in roots is warranted.