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Mucilage
[
Botany -
Biochemistry ]
Adjective:
Mucilaginous
Adverb:
Mucilaginously
Noun:
Mucilaginousness |
Dictionary of botanic terminology
index of names |
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The mucilage is a
sticky, viscous or gelatinous plant
cell product, this
substance is
secreted by some plants through the
action of water on the
cell wall, and the term is
usually applied to plant gums. |
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[From Latin mucillago “moldy juice,” from Latin mucus).
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The mucilage obtained from cactus
(especially from Opuntia
sp.) is commonly described as a
water-soluble pectin-like
polysaccharide. The ability
of Cactaceae to retain water
under prolonged drought in
unfavourable climatic conditions in
arid and hot drylands is due
in part, at least, to the water-binding capacity of mucilage.
The mucilage biosynthesis
takes place in specialized
cells (the mucilage cell) that
excrete it into the
apoplast, where it helps regulate
the cellular
water content during the initial
phase of
dehydration. Some species of
cacti (eg.
Ariocarpus) has extensive
system of mucilage canals and
reservoir.
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Mucilage is another term for so called exopolysaccharides
(sugar substances produced by
unicellular or filamentous green algae and cyanobacteria)
Exopolysaccharides are the most stabilising factor for microaggregates
and are widely distributed in soils.
Therefore exoplysaccharide-producing "soil algae" play a vital role in
the ecology of the world's soils. |
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Mucilaginous |
Resembling, containing,
composed or pertaining to mucilage; moist, sticky and slimy.
Characterized by a gummy or gelatinous consistency. |
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