Selective absorption of mineral elements by native plants of Wisconsin

Summary Native plants of Wisconsin seem to show considerable selectivity in the absorption of mineral elements. This was indicated by an unusually high or low concentration of a specific element in a species in comparison with other species growing under generally similar conditions, and by the fact that a species might have an unusually high concentration of one or several elements but an unusually low content of other elements. A capacity for selective uptake of a particular element was in general characteristic of samples of the same species obtained from different sites. The potassium content of some accumulator species was as high as 7.0 per cent when the average concentration in other species from the same sample area was only 2.0 per cent. Manganese seemed to be selectively excluded by some species.Cornus canadensis, for example, collected from a bog of pH 4.0 contained only 149 ppm manganese in comparison with an average concentration of 1061 ppm in other species from the same area.Nemopanthus mucronata showed an unusual capacity for selective zinc accumulation. Samples of this species contained from 300 to 700 ppm zinc while comparison species from the same sites contained less than 50 ppm. Some of the nutritional and ecological implications of the results are discussed.     

Mineral diversity in wild plants: benefits and bane for moose

We studied the mineral nutrition ecology of moose, Alces alces , by a comprehensive examination of concentration levels of 18 elements in browsing plants, and in rumen and distal colon contents, respectively. The plants, in total 14 species, included deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and aquatic macrophytes. Our study was done in four sites in southern Norway and the plants were sampled in spring, summer, autumn and winter to document seasonal trends. The plants were generally characterized by low concentrations of major elements, very low phosphorus: calcium ratios, and the willow Salix aurita – a preferred browse – had high cadmium concentrations, up to 9 ppm (dry mass). Sodium concentrations in terrestrial plants were significantly under the dietary requirement, while levels were sufficient in aquatic plants, which, however, had high concentrations of toxic heavy metals. We suggest that the moose experience a nutritional dilemma as a strong physiological need for sodium results in an overintake of heavy metals. A selective intake of plants rich in heavy metals was corroborated by high heavy metal concentrations in rumen and distal colon. Over all, the plants were characterized by a marked mineral diversity due to element concentration levels that were highly variable between species and sites. Thus, there is a strong link between plant species diversity and mineral diversity, which has a pivotal role for herbivores. It is concluded that a diversity of plant species is a prerequisite for the mineral diversity that the moose needs to obtain essential minerals, not only in sufficient amounts, but also in physiologically balanced proportions.     

山东昆嵛山植物区系初步研究

昆嵛山地处胶东半岛,属于暖温带气候类型;植物种类丰富,有维管植物132科,571属,1058种。地理成分复杂,区系类型多样,现有571个属可分为15个分布型及12个变型。区系组成的大科及主要科共16科,即菊科,禾本科,豆科,蔷薇科,莎草科,百合科,十字花科,蓼科等,共有植物285属,612种,占昆嵛山种子植物总属数的51.82%,总种数的59.94%,它们构成了昆嵛山植物区系的基本框架。Raunkiaer生活型组成依次为高位芽植物(34.40%)> 地面芽植物(27.13%)> 一年生植物(19.66%)> 隐芽植物(9.64%)> 地上芽植物(9.17%)。本文在主要区系地理成分分析的基础上,得出本区系植物具有以下4个特点:(1)植物种类丰富,温带成分优势明显,热带成分比例较大(2)分布类型多样,地理成分复杂,显示出多方植物交汇的特点(3)区系成分具有一定的古老性,单种属成分较多,区系的特有程度较低(4)珍稀濒危种类丰富,在科的层次上较为集中。     

Antibiotic‐induced effects on scaling relationships and on plant element contents in herbs and grasses

Plant performance is correlated with element concentrations in plant tissue, which may be impacted by adverse chemical soil conditions. Antibiotics of veterinary origin can adversely affect plant performance. They are released to agricultural fields via grazing animals or manure, taken up by plants and may be stored, transformed or sequestered by plant metabolic processes. We studied the potential effects of three antibiotics (penicillin, sulfadiazine, and tetracycline) on plant element contents (macro‐ and microelements). Plant species included two herb species (Brassica napus and Capsella bursa‐pastoris) and two grass species (Triticum aestivum and Apera spica‐venti), representing two crop species and two noncrop species commonly found in field margins, respectively. Antibiotic concentrations were chosen as to reflect in vivo situations, that is, relatively low concentrations similar to those detected in soils. In a greenhouse experiment, plants were raised in soil spiked with antibiotics. After harvest, macro‐ and microelements in plant leaves, stems, and roots were determined (mg/g). Results indicate that antibiotics can affect element contents in plants. Penicillin exerted the greatest effect both on element contents and on scaling relationships of elements between plant organs. Roots responded strongest to antibiotics compared to stems and leaves. We conclude that antibiotics in the soil, even in low concentrations, lead to low‐element homeostasis, altering the scaling relationships between roots and other plant organs, which may affect metabolic processes and ultimately the performance of a plant.     

Silica and Ash in Tissues of Some Coastal Plants

Ash and silica contents and their depositional patterns in differenttissues of 44 Mississippi coastal plants were determined. Silicacontent of dried plants varied from no more than a trace inChenopodium album L. leaves to 7.37 per cent in Zizanopsis miliacea(Michx) Doell & Aschers leaves. Ash content varied from2.50 per cent in Lythrum lineare L. stems to 28.24 per centin Borrichia frutescens (L.) DC leaves. Plants in the same familytend to be alike in their ability to absorb or not absorb silica.Poaceae and Cyperaceae had consistently high concentrationsof silica. In contrast, the Asteraceae studied had very lowsilica contents but often had high contents of other minerals.Dicotyledonous plants studied had consistently lower silicacontents than the monocotyledons. Plants growing in salt watercontained considerable sodium chloride. Spectra were obtainedfor major elements in four different plants. Energy-dispersiveX-ray analysis shows that distribution of the element siliconis clearly related to certain epidermal structures such as guardcells, ridges, dumb-bells and balls that appear in electronmicrographs. Silica was deposited differently in each type ofplant studied. In many of the plants silica was deposited inrows of irregular-shaped particles running lengthwise of theleaf and in guard cells. In others, like Zizanopsis miliacea(Michx) Doell & Aschers, the deposit was sheet-like. Zizaniaaquatica L. not only had a sheet-like deposit, but the depositwas ridged and there were rows of dumb-bell-shaped silica cells.Related plants had similar structures. Euchlaena mexicana Schrad.,Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L and Manisuris rugosa (Nutt.) Kuntzeall had irregular phytoliths similar to those in Zea mays L. coastal plants, marsh plants, ash content, silica deposition, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, silicon distribution, X-ray diffraction patterns, spectra of elements in plants     

贵州喀斯特山区典型人工林土壤矿质元素特征

为了阐明群落水平上的土壤矿质元素特征,该研究以贵州喀斯特山区典型人工林为对象,以金属元素和非金属元素进行类型划分,探讨了土壤矿质元素含量特征及其相关性。结果表明:该区典型人工林土壤矿质元素含量存在较大差异,且同一元素在不同树种之间的变化幅度各异,锌、铬、铁、钛、铝、镁、镍、钴等的变化规律较为一致,钙、锶等的变化趋势较为相似,砷、硒、硅在桉树(Eucalyptus robusta)林、柏木(Cupressus funebris)林和枇杷(Eriobotrya japonica)林中的含量较高,硫、钠、氯等元素含量则相反;不同矿质元素随林分类型的变化规律不完全一致,表明植物根系对养分的提取和富集能力存在差异;矿质元素之间表现出一定程度的相关性,存在此消彼长的关系,不同矿质元素之间的相关关系各异,表现出增强或抑制效应,尤其以铁、钙等元素与其他元素的关系更为密切;矿质元素之间的互作效应及其计量平衡关系是分析元素特征的关键,是未来值得深入研究的科学问题。该研究结果有利于掌握养分元素积累特征与调控规律,对于该区域典型人工林土壤养分管理具有较强的理论和实践意义。     

The Effect of Root Temperatures on Water and Sulphate Absorption in Intact Sunflower Plants

The effect of 15, 25, and 35°C root temperature on waterabsorption, transpiration, and sulphate uptake by the rootsand transport to the shoots of intact sunflower plants has beenstudied using 0.5, 5.0, and 50.0 mM sulphate concentrationsat two rates of transpiration induced (1) by light and low relativehumidity and (2) by darkness and high relative humidity. Root temperatures and sulphate concentrations did not significantlyaffect the water absorption and transpiration and both theseprocesses were approximately similar at the different treatments.There was a nearly twofold increase in water absorption andtranspiration in the light and low relative humidity as comparedto the dark and high relative humidity irrespective of the roottemperatures and sulphate concentrations. The A.F.S. uptake in the roots was found to be independent ofthe root temperatures, sulphate concentrations, and transpirationrates, and amounted to 15 to 21 per cent based on the root weight.Sulphate accumulation in the roots was not significantly influencedby the root temperatures at 0.5 and 5.0 mM sulphate concentrations,but nearly doubled with temperature at 50.0 mM sulphate concentrationof the external solution. The slow nature of accumulation ofsulphate, the high sulphate status of the experimental plants,and the short duration of the experiments are considered aslikely reasons for the absence of a clear effect of temperatureson accumulation of sulphate at the two lower concentrationsof the external solution. Effects of high concentration on permeabilityand metabolism of the cells are suggested as the reasons forthe decreased accumulation with an increase in temperature at50.0 mM sulphate concentration. Accumulation of sulphate inthe roots was not significantly influenced by the transpirationrates. Unlike root accumulation, sulphate transport to the shoots increasedwith increasing transpiration. However, a major part of thesulphate transport (70 to 75 per cent at 0.5 and 5.0 mM sulphateconcentrations and 80 to 85 per cent at 50.0 mM sulphate concentration)appeared to have occurred at the low transpiration. The similarityof this transport to the accumulation of sulphate in the rootsindicates that it was due to an active transport process sensitiveto root temperatures and sulphate concentrations. A low concentrationof sulphate in the xylem and an increased permeability of theroot cells to ion movement induced by an increased suction inthe xylem are considered as reasons for a small increase inthe sulphate transport at high transpiration rate. The evidencefor the existence of a barrier—probably endodermis—preventingthe passive diffusion of sulphate and sensitivity of the TranspirationStream Concentration to root temperatures and sulphate concentrationsfavour that the increased transport with increased transpirationwas due to an active process.     

Mineral composition of cultured Ginseng cells]

The contents of macroelements and microelements in ginseng roots and callus cultures was determined by atom absorption spectroscopy. Ginseng cells and tissues were shown to accumulate considerable amounts of microelements. The content of six of eleven mineral components studied (K, Ca, Na, Mo, Mn, and Cr) in callus cultures was higher than that in roots of agricultural ginseng plants. We revealed good correlations between the contents of microelements (K, Ca, and Mg), as well as between the concentrations of macroelements (Mo, Li, Cu, and Cr) in ginseng cultures. The ability to accumulate elements varied between ginseng species, which was probably related to their genetic features. Our findings indicate that cultured ginseng cells hold much promise as the source of microelements.     

The maize shoot ionome: Its interaction partners,predictive power,and genetic determinants

An improved understanding of how to manipulate the accumulation and enrichment of mineral elements in aboveground plant tissues holds promise for future resource efficient and sustainable crop production. The objectives of this study were to (a) evaluate the influence of Fe regimes on mineral element concentrations and contents in the maize shoot as well as their correlations, (b) examine the predictive ability of physiological and morphological traits of individual genotypes of the IBM population from the concentration of mineral elements, and (c) identify genetic factors influencing the mineral element composition within and across Fe regimes. We evaluated the concentration and content of 12 mineral elements in shoots of the IBM population grown in sufficient and deficient Fe regimes and found for almost all mineral elements a significant (α = 0.05) genotypic variance. Across all mineral elements, the variance of genotype*Fe regime interactions was on average even more pronounced. High prediction abilities indicated that mineral elements are powerful predictors of morphological and physiological traits. Furthermore, our results suggest that ZmHMA2/3 and ZmMOT1 are major players in the natural genetic variation of Cd and Mo concentrations and contents of maize shoots, respectively.     

Analyses of three native aquatic plant species to assess spatial gradients of lake trace element contamination

A bioaccumulation study was performed on Lake Averno, a volcanic lake close to Naples (southern Italy), to ascertain the degree of trace element contamination. Good information to assess spatial gradients of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V and Zn contamination was provided by analysing Phragmites communis roots, Najas marina shoots, Potamogeton pectinatus leaves and surface sediments of Lake Averno collected from July 1999 to July 2000 at three sites in the littoral zone. The highest concentrations of the trace elements were measured in sediments and plants from the site where a nearby sewage outfall channel reaches the lake, the lowest at the site below woodland. Significant correlations were found between sediment and plant element concentrations. For almost all the elements, values 2–4-fold higher were found for the site affected by the sewage effluent. Among the plant species, Ph. communis is the most useful species in biomonitoring studies due to its ability to accumulate trace elements in the roots and its collectability throughout the year. Given the absence of systematic water quality monitoring, trace elements in plants, rather than sediments, provide a cost-effective means for assessing trace element accumulation in aquatic systems during plant organ lifespan.     

Rice can acclimate to lethal level of salinity by pretreatment with sublethal level of salinity through osmotic adjustment

The physiological ability to adapt for various environmental changes is known as acclimation. When exposed to sublethal level of stress, plants develop the ability to withstand severe stress, as acquired tolerance. The present study was conducted to explicate the physiological basis of acquired tolerance in rice. Rice seedlings (variety IR 20) were grown in half strength Hoagland solution, and after 22nd day, they were kept in half strength Hoagland solution containing 50 mM NaCl (sublethal dose) for 7 days followed by half strength Hoagland solution containing 100 mM NaCl (lethal dose) for another 7 days. The non-pretreated 29 days old rice seedlings maintained in half strength Hoagland solution were directly transferred to half strength Hoagland solution containing 100 mM NaCl (lethal dose) solution for 7 days. The control plants were maintained in half strength Hoagland solution without NaCl. Various morphological and physiological parameters were recorded on 29th and 36th days old seedlings from control, pretreated and non-pretreated plants. The results revealed significant reduction in growth parameters (shoot length, root length, leaf area and total dry matter production) of non-pretreated plants below that of pretreated plants. The pretreated plants showed increased values to the extreme of 19.8 per cent in leaf water potential (ψ_w), 9 per cent in relative water content (RWC), 26 per cent in photosynthetic rate (P _N), 28 per cent in leaf stomatal conductance, and 47 per cent in chlorophyll a over non-pretreated plants. The same trend was also observed in chlorophyll a/b ratio (6.6%) and F _v/F _m ratio (19.3%). However, a reverse trend was seen in F _o value. The pretreated plants showed improved ionic regulation as evident from low Na⁺, Cl⁻ and high K⁺ contents, which is attributed to enhanced plant water status and photosynthesis. Both pretreated and non-pretreated plants had higher contents of osmolytes viz., sucrose, leaf soluble sugars and proline contents than control plants. However, starch content revealed an inverse trend. Therefore, the present study reveals that rice can acclimate to lethal dose of salinity stress by pretreatment with sublethal dose of NaCl. Section Editor: J. M. Cheeseman     

Distribution of iron, cobalt, zinc and selenium in macrofungi

Samples of wild growing ectomycorrhizal and terrestrial saprobic macrofungi (mushrooms) were collected from unpolluted areas and analyzed for their iron, cobalt, zinc and selenium content. Trace elements were determined using long-term instrumental neutron activation analysis. In total, 217 samples, including 87 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi and 43 species of terrestrial saprobes, were examined. Distribution of trace element contents in ectomycorrhizal and saprobic macrofungi was investigated; results are thoroughly compared with previously published data. Doubtful literature data and ability of macrofungi to accumulate/concentrate investigated elements are discussed. Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca was found to concentrate Fe and Russula atropurpurea was confirmed as an effective Zn-accumulating species. Distribution of Se in ectomycorrhizal species was obviously different from that in saprobic species; selenium contents were higher in saprobic species (mostly above 2 ppm).     

LICHEN HERBIVORE PREFERENCE: A TEST OF TWO HYPOTHESES

Field data from a saxicolous lichen community in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, suggested that the slug Pallifera varia grazed more frequently on certain lichen species than would be expected if it fed randomly. Two hypotheses might explain this grazing pattern. The preference hypothesis, that slugs select lichens of highest quality, was tested by measuring the concentration of essential elements in lichens eliciting high and low preference by slugs. Lichens with the highest element contents were assumed to be of the highest quality to herbivores. The avoidance hypothesis, that preference by slugs actually results from the rejection of unpalatable species, was tested by offering slugs choices of baited filter-paper disks impregnated with secondary products of the lichen species in question. Results suggested that preferred lichens had significantly lower concentrations of N, P, and Ca, and that avoided lichens produced secondary products that effectively inhibited Pallifera grazing activity. These results suggested that the avoidance hypothesis was the better explanation for nonrandom Pallifera grazing patterns. Furthermore, they suggested that lichens with the highest concentrations of essential elements are most likely to produce defense compounds, an observation that supports predictions to explain patterns of chemical defense in vascular plants.     

Multivariate statistical analysis of nutrients and trace elements in plants and soil from northwestern Russia

Results are summarized of several field and greenhouse experiments designed to estimate differences in the ability of some plant species to take up from soil essential nutrients and various trace elements and transfer them from roots to upper plant parts. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine concentrations of 22 elements in plant and soil samples. Correlation and principal component analysis were applied for interpreting a large volume of experimental results. In many cases there was no statistically significant positive correlation between element concentrations in soil and concentrations of these elements in plants. Moreover, relationships between elements were often different in soil and in different plant parts, thereby suggesting quite different element behaviours in soil and in plants. Our experimental results and data published in the literature revealed that macro- and trace element concentrations might serve as a specific indicator of plant taxonomy, thus allowing for differentiation of the plants in accordance with concentrations of certain elements in roots or in leaves. Short-term variations in concentrations of elements typical for different plant species and factors affecting these variations indicated that diurnal dynamics of plant element concentrations were regular and species-specific.     

Characteristics of Plant Communities and Element Contents in Plants at Mengentaoligai Ag,Pb, Zn Mine area in Inner Mongolia

The types of plant communities in Mengentaoligai mine area are disscussed. Arenaria juncea, densely grown in the phytocommunities of the mineralized zone, is found closely related to the presence of Pb and Zn mineral deposits. Analytical results of seven element contents (in ash) for 34 species (or part of plant) show that: levels of element contents in sequence in. the plants are Fe>Mn > Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni>Co; variable ranges of element contents in the plants are Pb, Zn>Fe,Mn> Cu> Co > Ni; and variable ranges of Pb, Zn contents in the same species at different sites are respectively larger than that among species. For example, Pb and Zn contents of Arenaria juncea, l145ppm and 3087ppm respectively, are the highest; the difference among Pb contents of Ulmus macrocarpa, Arenaria ?uncea and PotentiUa chinensis at different sites are more than 10 folds. The difference of Co and Ni contents in the species is less than two to one- Striking correlation is found between elements in plants and in soils, such as the Pb and Zn contents between leaves and twigs of Ulmus macrocarpa, twigs of Prunus sibirica, Artemisia halodendron and soils (lrl≤α 0.05 or≤α 0.01). It is found that Pb and Zn phytogeochemical anomalies, correlate closely with Pb and Zn mining deposits. In addition, analysis of principal component was conducted among seven elements contents of 14 species (or part of plant) in the mineralized zone and 12 species in the unmineralized zone.     

The effect of sulfur-containing nitrogen fertilizers on the elemental composition of celery (Apium graveolens) grown on a polluted marsh soil

Summary In order to investigate elemental composition of celery, and to quantify the influence of sulfur-containing N-fertilizers on the trace element uptake, a field trial with celery was carried out on marsh soil polluted with municipal wastes. The research yielded the following results:Compared to leaves at harvest time, bulbs showed significantly lower concentrations of Mo, S and Sb, but higher contents of B, Br and Cr and Cu. Since the acidifying effect of the fertilizers was suppressed by the free calcium carbonate in the soil, no significant changes in concentrations of cationic trace elements were detected in plants fertilized with ammonium sulfate compared to those which received urea or calcium ammonium nitrate. On the other hand, in these plants the conspicuous increase in total sulfur was accompanied by a significant decrease in concentrations of up to 30% for B, Br and Sb, 50% for As, 60% for Se and 80% for Mo.According to these results, in plant production on contaminated soils certain plant parts may be marketable due to their low tendency to accumulate toxic elements, and furthermore it may be feasible to reduce the contents of some of these elements in plants by the use of sulfur-containing fertilizers.     

Mineral Composition of Cultured Ginseng Cells

The contents of macroelements and microelements in ginseng roots and callus cultures was determined by atom absorption spectroscopy. Ginseng cells and tissues were shown to accumulate considerable amounts of microelements. The content of six of the eleven mineral components studied (K, Ca, Na, Mo, Mn, and Cr) in callus cultures was higher than that in roots of agricultural ginseng plants. We revealed good correlations between the contents of microelements (K, Ca, and Mg), as well as between the concentrations of macroelements (Mo, Li, Cu, and Cr), in ginseng cultures. The ability to accumulate elements varied between ginseng species, which was probably related to their genetic features. Our findings indicate that cultured ginseng cells hold much promise as a source of microelements.     

Transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants expressing a fungal copper transporter gene show enhanced acquisition of copper

The diets of two-thirds of the world’s population are deficient in one or more essential elements and one of the approaches to enhance the levels of mineral elements in food crops is by developing plants with ability to accumulate them in edible parts. Besides conventional methods, transgenic technology can be used for enhancing metal acquisition in plants. Copper is an essential element, which is often deficient in human diet. With the objective of developing plants with improved copper acquisition, a high-affinity copper transporter gene (tcu-1) was cloned from fungus Neurospora crassa and introduced into a model plant (Nicotiana tabacum). Integration of the transgene was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. Transgenic tobacco plants (T₀ and T₁) expressing tcu-1, when grown in hydroponic medium spiked with different concentrations of copper, showed higher acquisition of copper (up to 3.1 times) compared with control plants. Transgenic plants grown in soil spiked with copper could also take up more copper compared with wild-type plants. Supplementation of other divalent cations such as Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ did not alter uptake of Cu by transgenic plants. The present study has shown that expression of a heterologous copper transporter in tobacco could enhance acquisition of copper.     

Accumulation of Oxalate in Tissues of Sugar-beet, and the Effect of Nitrogen Supply

In field-grown sugar-beet concentration of insoluble oxalatewas low in roots and high (about 12 per cent of ethanol insolublematerial) in leaves, and for a particular leaf the concentrationincreased continuously during its life. Of the insoluble oxalate,15–30 per cent was present as the magnesium salt and theremainder as the calcium salt. Oxalate contents of plants grownin culture solutions with nitrate as nitrogen source were similarto those of plants grown in soil, but when nitrogen was suppliedas ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate both soluble and insolubleoxalate were low. Plants grown in soil with regular additionsof ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate also had very low concentrationsof soluble oxalate although insoluble oxalate was only slightlylower than with nitrate nitrogen. Disks of root or leaf tissuewashed for several days in distilled water lost insoluble oxalatebut when washed in tap water insoluble oxalate increased morethan twofold. Addition of calcium and nitrate to the distilledwater caused an increase of insoluble oxalate, while additionof potassium caused a decrease. Use of ¹⁴C labelled oxalateand washing experiments showed that oxalate can be metabolizedby tissue disks and so is not necessarily a final product ofmetabolism. The accumulation of oxalate appears to be connectedwith the assimilation of nitrate and the preservation of thecation-anion balance of the plant.     

三种苦苣苔对石灰土和红壤的适应性分析

为探讨苦苣苔科植物对其岩溶生境的适应性,该研究选取黄花牛耳朵(Primulina lutea)、紫花报春苣苔(Pri.purpurea)和桂林蛛毛苣苔(Paraboea guilinensis)三种苦苣苔科植物,将其栽种在石灰土及红壤两种不同类型的土壤中,观测记录其生长性状并对其叶片元素含量进行测定和比较。植株采集过程中,同时采集自然生境中三种苦苣苔科植物叶片及取样植物基部土壤,并对叶片及土壤元素的含量进行测定,作为今后苗圃试验的参照。结果表明:三种苦苣苔科植物在两种土壤上的生长状况及适应性具有差异,其在石灰土上生长良好,在红壤上生长较差;在两种不同土壤中,除N外,桂林蛛毛苣苔的叶片其他元素(P、K、Mn、Mg、Ca、Zn、Cu)差异极显著(P0.01);除P外,紫花报春苣苔的叶片其他元素(N、K、Mn、Mg、Ca、Zn、Cu)差异极显著(P0.01);除N、Cu、Ca外,黄花牛耳朵的叶片元素(P、K、Mn、Mg、Zn)差异极显著(P0.01);三种植物的叶片元素比值,除少数值没有差异外,大部分指标差异都极显著;对叶片元素与栽培土壤元素的相关性分析,发现植物叶片Mn元素与土壤中N、Ca、Mg、Zn、Mn、有机质含量等呈正相关,土壤P元素与叶片中N、P元素呈正相关,而与叶片中Zn元素呈负相关关系。在其他栽培条件一致的条件下,土壤因素及物种差别是造成黄花牛耳朵、紫花报春苣苔和桂林蛛毛苣苔适应性产生差异的主要原因。