title: Leaf optical properties are affected by the location and type of deposited biominerals.
abstract: This study aimed to relate the properties of incrusted plant tissues and structures as well as biomineral concentrations and localization with leaf reflectance and transmittance spectra from 280nm to 880nm in the grasses Phragmites australis, Phalaris arundinacea, Molinia caerulea and Deschampsia cespitosa, and the sedge Carex elata. Redundancy analysis revealed that prickle-hair length on adaxial surface and thickness of lower epidermis exerted significant effects in P. australis; prickle-hair density at abaxial leaf surface and thickness of epidermis on adaxial leaf surface in P. arundinacea; thickness of epidermis on adaxial leaf in D. cespitosa; prickle-hair density on adaxial leaf surface and thickness of cuticle in M. caerulea; and prickle-hair density on adaxial leaf surface and cuticle thickness of the lower side in C. elata. Micro-PIXE and LEXRF elemental localization analysis show that all of these structures and tissues are encrusted by Si and/or by Ca. Reflectance spectra were significantly affected by the Ca concentrations, while Si and Mg concentrations and the Ca concentrations significantly affected transmittance spectra. High concentrations of Mg were detected in epidermal vacuoles of P. arundinacea, M. caerulea and D. cespitosa. Al co-localises with Si in the cuticle, epidermis and/or prickle hairs.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: katja.klancnik@bf.uni-lj.si.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klančnik
authors.affiliation: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vogel-Mikuš
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Mitja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelemen
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Primož
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vavpetič
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Primož
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pelicon
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kump
authors.affiliation: Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S. 14 km 163.5, Area Science Park, 34012 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jezeršek
authors.affiliation: Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S. 14 km 163.5, Area Science Park, 34012 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gianoncelli
authors.affiliation: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Alenka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaberščik
mesh_terms: D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals
keywords: Calcium; Element distribution; Encrustation; Reflectance; Silica; Transmittance