Phytolith profiles of Lolium perenne L. from the Kashmir Himalayas

The role of phytoliths, the silica structures (SiO 2 ), in alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses in crops, as well as in their taxonomic identification from archaeological and paleoecological sites, is well evidenced in earlier studies. Present study was conducted to characterise the phytoliths morphologically and physico-chemically from underground and aerial parts of one of the important species Lolium perenne L. (Pooideae). Clearing solution method was employed for in situ analysis of phytoliths of leaf epidermis. Dry ashing method was utilized for extraction of silica constituting phytolith morphotypes. 300 phytoliths per slide ( n = 5) and a total of 1500 phytoliths (300 × 5) were calculated to calculate the relative frequency of phytolith morphotypes in root and leaf of L. perenne . Morphometric data of phytoliths were also recorded. Biochemical architecture of silica was studied employing XRD and FTIR techniques. Species specific location of phytoliths in leaf epidermis was revealed. The highest and lowest silica content were recorded in synflorescence and culm respectively. A total of 45 phytolith morphotypes and species specific clusters of these morphotypes were found. FTIR analysis showed different structural units of silica having a range of vibrational degrees of freedom. Present study revealed the presence of a diversity of characteristic phytolith morphotypes in different parts of L. perenne that may help the taxonomists and archaeologists to identify the grass species from archaeological and paleoecological sites.