CALCIUM AND SILICON BINDING-COMPOUNDS IN CELL-WALLS OF RICE SHOOTS

Calcium compounds in cell walls of rice shoots were investigated by molecular sieve chromatography and compared with silicon compounds. The phenol-carbohydrate complexes (PCC) obtained by cellulase action, and the lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCC) extracted by dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were loaded onto a Sephacryl S-400 column. Then calcium, silicon, phenolic acids, or lignin, and carbohydrate of both complexes were detected in the void volume. These results indicate that calcium and silicon may combine with the phenol- or lignin-carbohydrate complexes in cell walls of rice shoots.