Histochemistry of silicon in rice plant

There have been numerous studies of silicon in relation to plant growth and plant disease. Little is known, however, of the localization of silicon within plant tissues with the exception that accumulation of silicon in leaf, especially in that of gramineae plants, often forms so-called silicified cells. It has been reported repeatedly that silicification of epidermal cells in rice leaf-blade is closely related to the diminished susceptibility to such fungous diseases as blast and brown spot. Recently, Volk et al. 1) presented clear-cut results indicating that the resistance of rice plants to blast corresponds to the-increased content of silicon in the leaf under certain conditions. On the other hand, Sasamoto 2) found that silicon accumulation is one of the important factors respomible for the resistance to rice bohler.