Studies on the Nutrition of the Rice Plant with Special Reference to Nitrogen and Silica. : I. Translocation of absorbed silica in plant and its accumulation in the epidermal cells of leaf blade in relation to transpiration

The author made a study on the effect of transpiration upon the silicification of epidermal cells of leaf blade using rice plants grown up under various environmental conditions. The rate of transpiration from leaf surface was determined by cobalt chloride paper method. From the results obtained it was concluded that such treatments as shading, partial removal of root system or lowering the soil moisture, each tending to suppress transpiration, retards the upward translocation of absorbed silica in plant, and reduces the accumulation of silica in the epidermal cells of leaf blade, while, on the contrary, such a treatment as blowing the plant body with an electric fan which will accelerate transpiration promotes the translocation of silica, increasing its accumulation in leaf blade. It was also found that the plant which has passed its seedling stage on a dry seed-bed has lower ability to transpire, and that consequently the translocation of silica is slower and also the accumulation of silica in the epidermal cells of its leaf blade is less in such a plant as compaired with those in the plant grown on an ordinary wet seed-bed.