Druse (botany)

Druses in onion scales (100x magnification)
For other uses, see Druse.

A druse is a group of crystals of calcium oxalate,[1] silicates, or carbonates present in plants, and are thought to be a defense against herbivory due to their toxicity. Calcium oxalate (Ca(COO)2, CaOx) crystals are found in algae, angiosperms and gymnosperms in more than 215 families. These plants accumulate oxalate in the range of 3–80% (w/w) of their dry weight[2][3] through a biomineralization process in a variety of shapes.[4] Araceae have numerous druses, multi-crystal druses and needle-shaped raphide crystals of CaOx present in the tissue.[5] Druses are also found in leaves and bud scales of Prunus, Rosa,[6] Allium, Vitis, Morus and Phaseolus.[7][8]

  1. ^ Franceschi VR, Nakata PA (2005). "Calcium oxalate in plants: formation and function". Annu Rev Plant Biol. 56: 41–71. doi:10.1146/annurev.arplant.56.032604.144106. PMID 15862089.
  2. ^ Zindler-Frank E. (1976). "Oxalate biosynthesis in relation to photosynthetic pathways and plant productivity: a survey". Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 80 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1016/S0044-328X(76)80044-X.
  3. ^ Libert B, Franceschi VR (1987). "Oxalate in crop plants". J Agric Food Chem. 35 (6): 926–938. doi:10.1021/jf00078a019.
  4. ^ McNair JB (1932). "The interrelation between substances in plants: essential oils and resins, cyanogen and oxalate". Am J Bot. 19 (3): 255–271. doi:10.2307/2436337. JSTOR 2436337.
  5. ^ Prychid CJ, Jabaily RS, Rudall PJ (2008). "Cellular ultrastructure and crystal development in Amorphophallus (Araceae)". Ann. Bot. 101 (7): 983–995. doi:10.1093/aob/mcn022. PMC 2710233. PMID 18285357.
  6. ^ Lersten NR, Horner HT (2006). "Crystal macropattern development in Prunus serotina (Rosaceae, Prunoideae) leaves". Ann. Bot. 97 (5): 723–729. doi:10.1093/aob/mcl036. PMC 2803424. PMID 16513655.
  7. ^ Jáuregui-Zúñiga D, Reyes-Grajeda JP, Sepúlveda-Sánchez JD, Whitaker JR, Moreno A (2003). "Crystallochemical characterization of calcium oxalate crystals isolated from seed coats of Phaseolus vulgaris and leaves of Vitis vinifera". J Plant Physiol. 160 (3): 239–245. Bibcode:2003JPPhy.160..239J. doi:10.1078/0176-1617-00947. PMID 12749080.
  8. ^ Katayama H, Fujibayashi Y, Nagaoka S, Sugimura Y (2007). "Cell wall sheath surrounding calcium oxalate crystals in mulberry idioblasts". Protoplasma. 231 (3–4): 245–248. doi:10.1007/s00709-007-0263-x. PMID 17922267. S2CID 29944485.