From Kevin Handreck
Your interesting article on the origins of bananas mentioned mineral formations known as siliceous phytoliths in plant tissue, and said their purpose was a mystery (20 April, p 38).
However, they are known to provide beneficial effects, including enhanced resistance to fungal and insect attack, and, in crops such as rice, higher photosynthetic rates associated with a more upright growth habit produce bigger yields.
Adelaide, South Australia
