Where does all the calcium go? Evidence of an important regulatory role for trichomes in two calcicoles.

In previous studies of the calcicoles Centaurea scabiosa and Leontodon hispidus, the stomata on isolated epidermis closed partially when the concentration of calcium in the medium was above 1 mol m−3. This is a much smaller concentration than that believed to be delivered into the leaves in xylem sap when the plants are growing in a calcium-rich medium, and hence the mechanism for 'protecting' stomata from excessive exposure to free calcium is thought to be of great physiological significance. It is shown here that, in the leaves of both species, a substantial amount of the calcium they contain is located within meso-phyll cells, and virtually all of that which does enter the epidermis is contained within trichomes, probably as calcium oxalate. The amounts of calcium in the vicinity of the stomata thus remain small despite high concentrations elsewhere, ensuring that the essential role of Ca2+ in intra-cellular signalling in guard cells can continue to be performed without disturbance

Acúmulo de ácido oxálico e cristais de cálcio em ectomicorrizas de eucalipto.: II- formação de cristais de oxalato de cálcio induzida por fungos ectomicorrízicos em raízes laterais finas Accumulation of oxalic acid and calcium crystals in ectomycorrhizas of eucalypt.: II- calcium oxalate crystal formation induced by ectomicorrhizal fungi in fine lateral roots

O eucalipto é eficiente na aquisição de Ca do solo, mas pouco se sabe sobre a participação das ectomicorrizas e dos ácidos orgânicos nesse processo em campo. O acúmulo de cristais de Ca (CaOx) foi avaliado em, aproximadamente, 2.100 raízes laterais finas e ectomicorrizas do híbrido de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla, cultivado por 2,5 anos em área com topografia típica em meia laranja, com vertente côncavo-convexa, na região de Viçosa, MG. Técnicas de microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura foram usadas para a visualização dos CaOx. Em 73,7 % das raízes, ocorreu abundante acúmulo de drusas e grânulos de CaOx nas células do córtex. A presença conspícua de CaOx foi observada em 56,2 % das ectomicorrizas e em 17,5 % das raízes laterais finas não colonizadas, evidenciando o papel das micorrizas no acúmulo de Ca em eucalipto. A forma predominante dos CaOx foram as drusas nas ectomicorrizas e os grânulos cristalinos nas raízes. Os dez morfotipos de ectomicorrizas observados na área diferiram quanto à presença e à morfologia dos CaOx, o que pode representar distintas capacidades dos fungos ectomicorrízicos em fornecer Ca para a planta hospedeira. A análise da superfície do manto das ectomicorrizas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura não evidenciou a presença de CaOx nessa estrutura, confirmando que, nas condições avaliadas, o acúmulo de cristais limita-se ao córtex radicular. Este é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de CaOx em ectomicorrizas de eucalipto no Brasil, com dados que comprovam que há mecanismos de armazenamento de Ca nas ectomicorrizas em áreas com baixa disponibilidade do elemento.<br>Eucalypt is efficient at taking up Ca from the soil, however little is known about the contribution of ectomycorrhizas and organic acids to this process under field conditions. The accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals (CaOx) was evaluated in, approximately, 2,100 fine lateral roots and ectomycorrhizas of a 2.5-year-old Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla hybrid, grown in a mountainous area at Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used for CaOx observation. Abundant accumulation of calcium as druses or grains in the root cortex cells was observed in 73.7 % of the fine lateral roots. The conspicuous presence of CaOx was observed in 56.2 % of the ectomycorrhizal and in 17.5 % of the nonmycorrhizal fine lateral roots, evidencing the role of the ectomycorrhizal association in calcium storage of eucalypt roots. In the ectomycorrhizal root, druses were the predominant CaOx form, while in nonmycorrhizal roots crystalline grains were more frequent. The 10 ectomycorrhizal morphotypes observed varied in relation to the CaOx content in the root cortex, possibly representing distinct capacities of each ectomycorrizal fungi to supply Ca to the host plant. The analysis of the mantle surface of the different ectomycorrhizal morphotypes by scanning electron microscopy did not detect the presence of CaOx in this structure, confirming that under the conditions evaluated, CaOx accumulation in the association is limited to the root cortex. This is the first report on the occurrence of CaOx in eucalypt ectomycorrhizas in Brazil, with data that demonstrate the existence of calcium storage mechanisms in the ectomycorrhizas in areas with low calcium availability