A new attempt to study biomineralised silica bodies in Dactylis glomerata L.

The accumulation process of inorganic compounds in animals and plants by biomineralisation is not well understood nowadays, though it may be the key to an environmental-compatible production of modem materials in future. In this paper a new attempt will be made on the investigation of silica accumulation in grasses (especially Dactylis glomerata L.). The silicic acid agglomerates in Dactylis glomerata L. were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry as well as infrared and micro-RAMAN spectrometry. In particular blades were prepared by critical point drying or shock-freezing for anatomical studies of silica cells and bristles in the plant tissue. SEM imaging and EDX microanalysis for elemental composition were done in the cryostage as well as under variable pressure. The localized silica bodies were examined for their structural properties by means of IR and micro RAMAN spectroscopy. The results are comparable to SiO2 polytypes such as high disperse silica and opal.