Anatomical Structure and Chemical Features of Leaf in Brittle Mutant of Rice

The anatomical structure and chemical features of leaf in a rice (Oryza sativa L.) brittle mutant bc7(t) were investigated. Anatomical analyses with light microscopy and electron microscopy showed that the cell walls of sclerenchyma cells were thinner in the mutant than in the wild type (WT). Chemical analyses of cell wall indicated that the content of cellulose decreased, silicon increased in mutant with no significant variation of lignin. The energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed that the content of silicon was obviously higher in the mutant than in WT. These results suggested that the reduction of cellulose might affect the formation of secondary cell walls, the thickness of cell wall, and plant mechanical strength. The brittle mutant might have a mechanism to balance the mechanical strength with an increase in silicon content.