Opfergelt, S.,  Cardinal, D.,  Henriet, C. & André, L. 2006. ‘Silicon isotope fractionation between plant parts in banana: In situ vs. in vitro’. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 88: 224-227. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2005.08.044  I.F. 0.878.

Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal

We recently showed that silicon isotopic fractionation in banana (Musa acuminata Colla, cv Grande Naine) was related to phytolith production, and therefore to silica content in plant. The present study focuses on isotopic fractionation between the different plant parts. Silicon isotopic compositions were measured using a Nu plasma multicollector plasma source mass spectrometer (MC ICP MS) operating in dry plasma mode. The results are expressed as d29Si relatively to the NBS28 standard, with an average precision and accuracy of 0.08pmil (2 sigma). On mature banana (Musa acuminata Colla, cv Grande Naine) from Cameroon, d29Si ranged from +0.13 pmil the petiole to +0.49 pmil the lamina, yielding to a 0.36 pmil change towards heavier isotopic composition in the upper parts of the plant. This strongly accords with results obtained on in vitro banana plantlets cultivated in hydroponics, where the d29Si increase from pseudostems to lamina is 0.26 pmil. These preliminary results on in situ banana show a trend of intra-plant fractionation comparable with that of in vitro hydroponics banana plantlets and with previous data obtained on bamboo.

• Silicon cycle in the soil-plant system: Biogeochemical tracing using Si isotopes