A histological and histochemical comparison of the mucilages on the root tips of several grasses
Miki N.K.; Clarke K.J.; Mccully M.E., 1980: A histological and histochemical comparison of the mucilages on the root tips of several grasses. Canadian Journal of Botany 58(24): 2581-2593
Young, axenically grown roots of grasses are covered by 2 types of mucilage. Gelatinous material originates from the root cap, and a firm, uniformly thick mucilage overlies the columnar epidermal cells. Histochemical properties of these mucilages are similar in corn, wheat, barley, oats, sorghum and a Sudan grass-sorghum hybrid. The epidermal mucilage has a thin outer and a thicker inner layer distinct from the epidermal cell wall. Both mucilage layers are strongly autofluorescent, birefringent, and PAS [periodic acid-Schiff] positive. Reactions of the outer layer and cell wall indicate carboxyl groups. These are absent from the inner mucilage. Root cap mucilage has a inner region with histochemical properties resembling those of the inner epidermal mucilage. The outer portion of the root cap mucilage is not fluorescent, not birefringent, weakly PAS positive, and carboxylated.DOI: 10.1139/b80-300
Other references
Ernst Andrej, 2004: Ordovician Bryozoa of the Montagne Noire (southern France). Pages 74-75 2004