tailieunhanh - Calcium oxalate crystal types in three oak species (Quercus L.) in Turkey

Crystal types from 3 oak species representing 3 different sections of the genus Quercus were identified. Crystals were studied with scanning electron microscopy after localisation by light microscopy. The crystals were composed of calcium oxalate silicates as whewellite (calcium oxalate monohydrate) composites. | Turk J Biol 36 (2012) 386-393 © TÜBİTAK doi: Calcium oxalate crystal types in three oak species (Quercus L.) in Turkey Bedri SERDAR1, Hatice DEMİRAY2 1 Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Botany, Trabzon - TURKEY 2 Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, İzmir - TURKEY Received: ● Accepted: Abstract: Crystal types from 3 oak species representing 3 different sections of the genus Quercus were identified. Crystals were studied with scanning electron microscopy after localisation by light microscopy. The crystals were composed of calcium oxalate silicates as whewellite (calcium oxalate monohydrate) composites. In Quercus macranthera Fisch. et Mey. subsp. syspirensis () Menitsky (İspir oak) from the white oaks (section Quercus: Leucobalanus), whewellite and trihydrated weddellites coexisted. Axial parenchyma cells included 30 crystal chains with walls as chambers in uniseriate ray cells; some cells had many crystals without any chambers and were small. Long thin crystals were found adherent to the membrane in the tracheary cell lumens of latewood. Quercus cerris L. var. cerris (hairy oak/Turkey oak) from the red oak group (section Cerris Loudon) is extremely rich in rhomboidal crystals. In species Quercus aucheri Jaub. et Spach (grey pırnal) from the evergreen oak group (section Ilex Loudon) rhomboidal crystals were found in axial parenchyma and multiseriate ray cells. Lignified wall layers were not observed around the crystals with chambers. Key words: Calcium oxalate silicate, crystals, crystal morphology, Quercus, Turkey Introduction Most plants invest considerable resources in cytoplasmic inclusions such as starch, tannins, silica bodies, and calcium oxalate crystals in some of their cells. Calcium oxalate crystals are widespread in flowering plants, both dicotyledons and monocotyledons, indicating their importance in basic processes of growth and .