title: Physiological and ecological significance of biomineralization in plants.
abstract: Biomineralization is widespread in the plant kingdom. The most common types of biominerals in plants are calcium oxalate crystals, calcium carbonate, and silica. Functions of biominerals may depend on their shape, size, abundance, placement, and chemical composition. In this review we highlight advances in understanding physiological and ecological significance of biomineralization in plants. We focus on the functions of biomineralization in regulating cytoplasmic free calcium levels, detoxifying aluminum and heavy metals, light gathering and scattering to optimize photosynthesis, aiding in pollen release, germination, and tube growth, the roles it plays in herbivore deterrence, biogeochemical cycling of carbon, calcium, and silicon, and sequestering atmospheric CO2.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA 6009, Australia. Electronic address: honghuahe@ms.iswc.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Honghua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Erik J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Veneklaas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth), WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lambers
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004463:Ecology; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium