[[en/index|English]] · [[zh/index|中文]] · [[en/phytolith_植硅体/trichome-base|EN]] · [[zh/phytolith_植硅体/trichome-base|中文]] # Trichome bases ## Not many trichomes in wheat chaff - A lot of trichome bases seen in Mingjuan's wheat bract samples - Without a lot of trichomes corresponding to those bases - It is likely that most of the trichomes have been disarticulated from the bases during wheat harvesting ## Implications - Those wheat bract (wheat chaff) samples Haisheng used for feeding the chicken contain unproportionally lower numbers of trichomes than the contaminated wheat seeds do - So, human beings are ingesting more trichomes via wheat flour. Domestic chicken could be ingesting more phytoliths of other kinds than trichomes - We will need to consider these in future experiments # What are trichomes? As the common structures on the surface of most terrestrial plants, trichomes not only enhance the ability of plants to resist adverse environmental factors such as drought, UV rays, pests and diseases. > Trichome is a specialized structure appendage developed from plant epidermal cells, and is widely present in plants in different forms. It plays an important role in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stress. In the meantime, its secretions, containing various secondary metabolites, have been exerting a considerable socioeconomic impact.