Mucilage cells, calcium oxalate crystals and soluble calcium in Opuntia ficus-indica

S. Trachtenberg*, A. M. Mayer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

The subcellular location of soluble calcium in parenchymatous and mucilage cells of Opuntia ficus-indica was determined histochemically. Soluble calcium was observed in crystal chambers containing calcium oxalate on the membrane of the vesicles. Calcium was also present in the plasmalemma, in plasmodesmata, in cell walls, in mitochondria and in the vacuoles. Especially marked was the presence of soluble calcium in vesicles free or fused with the plasmalemma. Little free calcium was observed in other cell compartments.In the calcium economy of tissues the location of soluble calcium and the transport of calcium to and from mucilage cells to parenchymatous cells and calcium oxalate idioblasts will play a role. Chelation of calcium by mucilage or oxalate, which depends on pH, ionic strength, etc., will be important in this respect.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)549-557
Number of pages9
JournalAnnals of Botany
Volume50
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1982

Keywords

  • Calcium oxalate
  • Mucilage cells
  • Opuntia ficus-indica
  • Transport of calcium

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