Effect of fluoride supply on fluoride concentrations in five pasture species: Levels required to reach phytotoxic or potentially zootoxic concentrations in plant tissue

Recent findings have highlighted the possibility of increased fluoride (F) concentrations in herbage through F taken up from soil via the plant root. This paper aimed to assess the risk of F concentrations reaching phytotoxic or zootoxic concentrations in pasture plants. Five plant species commonly found in improved pastures in Australia, the sown species subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and weeds barley grass (Hordeum leporinum), scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) and sorrel (Rumex acetosella) were grown in complete nutrient solutions with graded levels of added F to determine the effects of F⁻ activity in solution on phytotoxicity and uptake of F by their roots. A model was developed using data from these solution culture experiments and data from the literature. The model assessed uptake of F by plants grown over a range of soil pH values and determined the risk of F taken up through the plant roots reaching phytotoxic concentrations, or concentrations potentially injurious to grazing animals, in the plant shoots. Modelling data suggested that the plants studied would not accumulate phytotoxic concentrations of F in shoots or concentrations of F deleterious to grazing animals through root uptake in neutral pH agricultural soils. The risks from F addition to soils in phosphatic fertilisers leading to reduction in pasture growth or animal health are therefore low. However, in highly F-polluted soil, as the soil becomes more acidic or alkaline, the risk of zootoxic concentrations of F in shoots of plants would increase. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Plant-soil interactions associated with acid,weathered soils

Plant-soil interactions in weathered soils are so complex that unqualified statements about a suitable pH for plants are risky. Conventional experimental designs and statistical methods may not be appropriate for investigating such complexities. Lime experiments using continuous function designs and observation of plant response to indigenous variability in soil pH permit detailed observations of plant-soil interactions that are frequently not detected. A graphical boundary-line approach to interpreting data can make good sense out of apparent confusion. Increasing the pH of variable-charge soils by adding lime or by indigenous means increased CEC and retarded cation leaching, but Ca solubility changed very little over the range pH 5 to 6. N fixation and yield was closely related to soil pH, soil Mn and Mn uptake by soybean. This result was clearly demonstrated regardless of numerous other limiting factors. Plant yield response curves resolved into distinct segments that corresponded with associated soil properties. Excess Al compounded by Ca deficiency is suspect in the pH range <5. Excess Mn, and Ca deficiency probably limited yields in the pH range 5.0 to 5.7. Yields were stable, and Ca and P were constant in the pH interval 5.7 to 6.0. Yields abruptly increased in the pH interval 6.0 to 6.3. This was associated with elevated Ca concentrations in soil solutions.     

Calcium and temperature effects on seedling exudation and root rot infection of common bean on an acid sandy soil

Soil born fungi such as Phytium ultimum, Fusarium ssp., and Rhizoctonia solani (Kühn) severely restrict stand establishment of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on acid soils of the Tropics. Calcium application is known to alleviate fungal infection in many legumes but the causes are still unclear. To investigate environmental factors and physiological mechanisms involved, growth chamber experiments were conducted with an acid sandy soil from Mexico. Treatments were soil liming at a rate of 0.67 g Ca(OH)₂ kg^-1, gypsum application at 0.49 g CaSO₄ 2H₂O kg^-1 soil placed around the seed, and an untreated control. Beans were grown under three temperature regimes with constant night and one constant day vs. two sinusoidal day temperatures. To examine patterns of seed and seedling exudation at regular intervals leachates of germinating seeds were collected on filter paper soaked with equilibrium solutions from soils of the three treatments. The severity of root rot in the control treatment was highest when plants were stressed by temperature extremes. At a sinusoidal day temperature peaking at 40°C soil liming and gypsum application to the seed increased the number of healthy seedlings similarly by over 60%. However, only liming which effectively eliminated growth constraints by low pH and high aluminum concentrations led to an increase in hypocotyl elongation by 22% and in total root length by 8%. Both calcium amendments increased the calcium and potassium contents in the hypocotyl tissue. From seeds exposed to the equilibrium solution of unlimed soil with pH 3.7, 1 mM Ca, and 0.6 mM Al considerable amounts of amino acids and carbohydrates were leached. In contrast, exposure to the equilibrium solution from limed soil with pH 4.3, 3 mM Ca, and negligible concentrations of Al led to a net uptake of amino acids and decreased leaching of carbohydrates. Exposure to the equilibrium solution of the gypsum treatment with pH 3.6, 20 mM Ca, and 1.2 mM Al resulted in a somewhat smaller net uptake of amino acids compared to liming. During germination pH around the seeds steeply increased in the untreated control but significantly less with both amendments. The results indicate that pH and the Ca/Al ratio in the soil solution around bean seeds determine their pattern of exudation and solute uptake. For bean germination and early growth on acid soils locally placed application of small amounts of gypsum as seed pelleting seems as effective as soil liming in reducing the incidence of root rot. The results indicate that this may be accomplished by decreasing the amount of leachates available for fungal development.     

Characterization of fluoride uptake by roots of tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze)

Backgrounds and aims

Tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) accumulate high fluoride in the leaves whereas the mechanism on its uptake is poorly understood. The measured F^? uptake was compared to calculated uptake from transpiration rates assumuing no discrimination between F^? and water to characterize the property of F^? absorption by tea plant roots.

Methods

The F^? uptake was examined by depletion method under variable external F^? concentrations, pH, temperature, relative air humidity, anion channel blockers and metabolism inhibitors in solution experiments.

Results

Measured F^? uptake rates were significantly larger than those calculated from transpiration rates regardless of external F^? concentrations, uptake durations, relative humidity, and solution pH. The measured and net F^? uptake (subtracting that calculated from transpiration rate from the measured uptake) were reduced by low temperature and inhibited by anion channel and metabolism inhibitors anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (A-9-C), niflumic acid (NFA), and carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) but not by dihydro-4, 4′ diisothiocyanostilbene-2, 2′-disulphonic acid (DIDS). The F^? uptake showed biphasic response patterns, following saturable Michaelis–Menten kinetics in the range of low external F^? (below 100 μmol?L^?1) while increased linearly with external supply in the range of high concentrations.

Conclusion

The uptake of F^? by roots of accumulator tea plants was likely an active process and energy-dependent. This helps to explain why tea plants are able to accumulate considerably high F^?.     

The effects of lime and superphosphate on manganese toxicity in steam-sterilized soil

Summary The effects of liming and superphosphate application on the manganese nutrition of lettuce were studied in factorial experiments. A fairly acid silt loam of the Hamble series, which on steam-sterilization released considerable amounts of manganese in readily available forms, was used in the investigation.Manganese toxicity in lettuce was prevented by liming to increase the pH of the soil. The amounts of water-soluble, exchangeable and total active manganese present in the soil, and the manganese content of lettuce plants, decreased with increasing soil pH; easily reducible soil manganese increased with increasing soil pH.The effect of added superphosphate depended on the pH of the untreated soil. When the soil had a high pH, application of phosphate invariably decreased the pH and increased the manganese uptake. In acid soil supplying excessive amounts of manganese, application of phosphate reduced the manganese content of the plants; the pH of the soil was either unchanged or slightly increased by the treatment.Correlations were calculated between soil pH, various fractions of soil manganese, and the manganese content and yield of lettuce.From a comparison of plants grown in soil and sand culture it was concluded that the presence of a further toxic factor in the soil was probable.The results are discussed in relation to those obtained by other investigators.     

Effects of inorganic nitrogen application on the dynamics of the soil solution composition in the root zone of maize

The effect of inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the ionic composition of the soil solution under maize (Zea mays L.) was studied. A pot experiment was carried out with two treatments combined factorially, with or without N application (Ca(NO₃)₂; +N and –N treatments, respectively), and with or without plants. Three looped hollow fiber samplers were installed in each pot to sample soil solutions nondestructively from the root zone, seven times during the 50-day growth period. Plants were harvested on the 50th day, and their nutrient contents determined.Effects of N fertilizer on the soil solutions were observed by the first sampling, 2 days after sowing. The concentrations of Ca and NO₃ ^– and electrical conductivity (EC) increased significantly in the +N treatments as direct effects of fertilizer application. In addition, the concentrations of Mg, K, Na and H⁺ also increased and that of P decreased significantly as indirect effects caused by the re-establishment of chemical equilibria. This suggested the greater supply as well as the greater possibility of leaching loss not only of NO₃ ^– but also of Ca, Mg and K. In the treatments with plants, the concentrations of NO₃ ^–, Ca, Mg and K decreased with time and pH increased significantly compared with the unplanted soil. The depletion of N in the soil solution roughly agreed with the amount of N taken up by the plant. The depletions of K from the soil solution amounted to less than 10% of the amount of the K taken up, suggesting intensive replenishment of K from exchange sites in the soil. Depletions of Ca and Mg were several times higher than the amounts taken up, indicating that the depletions resulted from the adsorption of the divalent cations by the soil rather than uptake by plants. Because NO₃ ^– is hardly absorbed by exchange sites in soil and was the dominant anion in solution, it was concluded that NO₃ ^– had a major role in controlling cation concentrations in the soil solution and, consequently, on their availability for uptake by plants as well as their possible leaching loss. ei]H Marschner     

Effects of liming on soil chemical characteristics and grass growth in laboratory and long-term field-amended soils

Summary The influence of liming on soil solution composition was compared in two laboratory amended soils and one field amended soil. In the laboratory study, soil solutions were sampled by miscible displacement at intervals of 1 and 10 weeks after liming. In addition to increases in pH and Ca, there were large reductions in the concentrations of Mg, K, Na, Si and Mn. Solution concentration of free Al decreased with liming; however, organically complexed Al increased, as did soluble organic matter. Liming also stimulated mineralization of N as indicated by increased solution NO₃ levels. The field amended soils were obtained from a long-term cutting trial investigating the effects of lime on pasture. Despite the passage of a 16-year interval since application, the effects of lime on soil solution characteristics were still clearly evident and generally consistent with those observed in the laboratory study. Estimated leaching losses of Ca from limed soil were relatively low, amounting to 12%, 27% and 44% of the 4.2, 8.4 and 12.5 t lime ha⁻¹ applied, respectively. The results suggest that, in Eastern Ireland, a lime treatment would maintain and elevated pH and would influence the avialability and mobility of plant nutrients for some decades following application.     

The absorption of potassium as influenced by its concentration in the nutrient medium

Summary Barley plants were grown, for periods of up to eleven weeks duration, in culture solutions in which the potassium concentrations were maintained at 0.01, 0.10, 1.0, and 50.0 ppm. Potassium added continuously during the day was augmented night and morning, as determined by solution analysis. The following observations were made:Plants grew equally well at pH levels of 5.5 and 7.0. Variations in root temperature between 15° and 25°C had no effect on K-content of tissue at either pH level. Yields were large as were the quantities of potassium absorbed from the solutions. No potassium-deficiency symptoms were observed at any of the concentrations used.Considerable variation in yield was observed between tanks and between plants growing in the same tank. The variation appeared to be due to a difference in the amount of tillering per plant.The results indicate that plants grow well in culture solutions at potassium concentrations approaching 0.01 ppm and this may have some implications on the mechanism of uptake of potassium by plant roots growing in a soil system.     

Cadmium and zinc in plants and soil solutions from contaminated soils

In an experiment using ten heavy metal-contaminated soils from six European countries, soil solution was sampled by water displacement before and after the growth of radish. Concentrations of Cd, Zn and other elements in solution (K, Ca, Mg, Mn) generally decreased during plant growth, probably because of uptake by plants and the subsequent redistribution of ions onto soil exchange sites at lower ionic strength. Speciation analysis by a resin exchange method showed that most Cd and Zn in non-rhizosphere solutions was present as Cd2+ and Zn2+, respectively. The proportion of free ions was slightly lower in rhizosphere solutions, mainly due to an increase in dissolved organic carbon during plant growth. Solution pH increased during plant growth, although the bulk soil pH generally remained constant. Cd concentrations in leaves and tubers were more closely correlated with their total or free ionic concentrations in rhizosphere solutions (adjusted R2 0.90) than with their concentrations in soils (adj. R2 0.79). Cd concentrations in non-rhizosphere solutions were only poorly correlated with Cd concentrations in leaves and tubers. In contrast to Cd, there were no soil parameters that individually predicted Zn concentrations in leaves and tubers closely. However, multiple correlation analysis (including Zn concentrations in rhizosphere solutions and in bulk soils) closely predicted Zn concentrations in leaves and tubers (adj. R2 = 0.85 and 0.70, respectively). This suggests that the great variability among soils in the solubility of Zn affected the rate of release of Zn into solution, and thus Zn uptake. There was no such effect for Cd, for which solubility varied much less. Furthermore, the plants may have partly controlled Zn uptake, as they took up relatively less at high solution concentrations of Zn.Free ionic concentrations in soil solution did not predict concentrations of Cd or Zn in plants better than their total concentrations in solution. This suggests that with these soils, analysis of Cd and Zn speciation is of little practical importance when their bioavailability is assessed.     

Effect of phosphate rock,coal combustion by-product,lime, and cellulose on ryegrass in an acidic soil

Remediation of soil acidity is crucial for increasing crop production and improving environmental quality of acid infertile soils. Soil incubation and greenhouse pot experiments were carried out to examine the interactions between phosphate rock (PR), coal combustion by-product (BP), dolomitic lime (L), and cellulose (C) in an acidic soil and their effects on ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv Linn) growth. BP and PR application increased plant P content and dry matter yield (DMY) of shoots and roots by improving soil Ca availability and reducing Al toxicity. Application of BP at low rates (5 to 10 g BP kg^-1) with PR appeared to decrease both plant P content and DMY compared to PR application alone. The reduced DMY is due to an increased Al concentration in soil solution as a result of displacement of sorbed Al by Ca of BP. Increases in DMY were obtained by addition of lime along with PR and BP at low rates or by increasing BP application rates above 15 g kg^-1. This improved plant response was likely related to alleviation of Al toxicity by CaCO₃ contained in the BP. In addition to raising the pH to an acceptable level for plant growth, the dolomitic lime supplied needed Mg for plants, thereby maintaining a good balance between available Ca and Mg for plants in the BP- and PR-amended soils. The addition of cellulose to the BP- and PR-amended soils reduced water-soluble Al and increased DMY. Plant growth increased PR dissolution by 2.4 to 243% in a soil with low available P. Use of BP at moderate rates with PR and dolomitic lime appears to be the best combination in increasing crop yields on infertile acidic soils.     

Role of magnesium in combination with liming in alleviating acid-soil stress with the aluminium-sensitive sorghum genotype CV323

An experiment to study the effects of Mg nutrition on root and shoot development of the Al-sensitive sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) genotype CV323 grown in pots of sandy loam under different acid soil stress is reported. This experiment had a factorial design: four rates of liming were combined with four rates of Mg fertilization. When no Mg was added, the pH of the soil solutions (collected in ceramic cups) increased from 4.0 (unlimed) to 4.2, 4.7 and 5.9 at the increasing rates of liming. After 30 days of growth dry matter yields of the limed treatments were 40%, 115% and 199% higher than that of the unlimed treatment. Without liming and at the highest liming rate, adding Mg did not affect plant biomass significantly. At the two intermediate levels of liming, however, 11.3 mg extra Mg per kg soil increased dry matter yield to the same levels as found at the highest liming rate. Concentrations of Mg in the soil solution rose after Mg was added and fell when lime was added, but adding both Mg and lime increased Mg concentrations in the plant shoots. In plants of the limed treatments, dry matter yield was correlated closely with the Mg concentration in the shoot. This was not so in the unlimed treatment. Furthermore, in the unlimed treatments root development was inhibited, but reduced Mg uptake by the plants resulted mainly from the direct effect of Al- (or H-) ions in the soil solution rather than from impaired root development. It is concluded that Mg fertilization counteracted the interfering effects of Al- and H ions on Mg uptake.     

Influence of Ca,pH and humic acid on Cd uptake

Summary Solution culture experiments were conducted to examine the effect of naturally occurring compounents of soil solutions such as Ca-ion, H-ion and organic acids on the Cd uptake of corn and snap beans. An increase in the Ca-ion concentration of solution cultures depressed the translocation of Cd from roots to tops of snap beans and corn but had no apparent deffect on the absorption of Cd by roots. Suppression of Cd translation by Ca was less marked for the corn than for the beans. No change in Cd absorption or translocation in corn was noted for solution pH values ranging from 4 to 7. Addition of humic acid to the solution decreased the Cd activity in soolution and the subsequent absorption of Cd by corn roots, indicating that Cd-ion activity in solution directly affectes Cd uptake. The addition of humic acid had no effect on Cd translation in corn plants.     

Mechanism for the detoxification of aluminum in roots of tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze)

To determine the mechanism of aluminum (Al) detoxification in the roots of tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze), the amounts of Al and Al-chelating compounds (fluoride (F), organic acids and catechins) were measured and the chemical forms of Al in root cell extracts were identified by the application of 27Al-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Tea plants were cultivated in nutrient solutions containing 0, 4, 1.0 and 4.0 mM of Al at pH 4.2 for approximately 10 weeks. The levels of soluble Al, water-soluble oxalate and citrate, but not F, malate or catechins in young roots increased with an increase in the concentration of Al in the treatment solution. The 27Al NMR spectra of root tips and cell sap extracted from root tips that had been treated with Al were almost identical and had four signals, with two (11 and 16 ppm) apparently corresponding to the known chemical shifts of Al-oxalate complexes. In the spectra of cell sap, the resonances at 11 and 16 ppm increased with an increase in the Al contents. These results suggest that the levels of Al-oxalate complexes increased in response to an increase in the Al level, implying that oxalate is a key Al-chelating compound in the mechanism of Al detoxification in the tea root.     

Influence of Soil Moisture on Soil Solution Chemistry and Concentrations of Minerals in the Calcicoles Phleum phleoides and Veronica spicata Grown on a Limestone Soil

Veronica spicata and Phleum phleoides are calcicole plants,mainly occurring on neutral or alkaline soil. An experimentof 16 weeks duration was performed in a glasshouse with theobjective of elucidating the influence of soil moisture levelon soil solution chemistry, and biomass concentrations and uptakeof mineral nutrients by the plants. Seven levels of moisture,corresponding to 35–85% of the water holding capacity(WHC) of the soil, were tested. Soil solution HCO₃, P and Mnconcentrations, and pH, increased, whereas Ca, Mg and Zn concentrationsdecreased, with increasing soil moisture. Concentrations ofK were highest at 50–70% WHC. Concentrations and amountsof P, Zn and Mn in the two species were usually related to soilsolution concentrations; these are elements with low solubilityand availability in calcareous soils. Concentrations of nutrientsin biomass were more influenced by soil moisture in V. spicatathan inP. phleoides . This indicates that P. phleoides is morecapable of controlling its uptake of mineral nutrients, whereasV. spicata is sensitive to variations in soil moisture. It isconcluded that variation in soil moisture regime may greatlyinfluence concentrations of mineral nutrients in calcareoussoil solutions and their uptake by plants. Species able to utilizethese solubility fluctuations may have an advantage in competitionfor nutrients. Variation in soil moisture content might evenbe a prerequisite for adequate acquisition of mineral nutrientsand growth of plants on limestone soils, thereby influencingthe field distribution of native plants among habitats. Copyright1999 Annals of Botany Company Calcareous, calcicole, concentration, mineral, moisture, nutrient, Phleum phleoides, soil, soil solution, uptake, Veronica spicata, water.     

Sensitivity to H- and Al ions limiting growth and distribution of the woodland grass Bromus benekenii

One pH experiment and two aluminium experiments were conducted in order to investigate the effects of H- and Al ions on growth of Bromus benekenii. Continuously flowing solution cultures were used with ion concentrations simulating natural soil solutions. In all experiments, treatment effects were more pronounced on root than on shoot growth. In the pH experiment, root growth decreased with decreasing pH within the pH range 4.5 to 3.5. The critical pH for root growth of Bromus benekenii was between 3.8 and 4.0. In the Al experiments, root growth started to decrease at 20 M of quickly reacting Al and almost ceased at 70 M Al. This characterizes Bromus benekenii as an Al sensitive species. In the pH experiment, shoot concentrations of Ca, Mg, K and P decreased with decreasing pH, but root concentrations were not affected. In the Al experiments, the Al concentrations of both shoots and roots increased with Al in the nutrient solution. At treatments of 70 M Al or higher, Ca, Mg, K and P concentrations in the shoots were reduced. The critical concentrations of H- and Al ions in the experiments were similar to the highest concentrations found at field sites of Bromus benekenii, analysed in soil solutions obtained by centrifugation technique. Both Al and H toxicity were considered to be of importance as limiting factors for the distribution of Bromus benekenii in south Sweden. Probably, Al toxicity starts to limit growth when also pH itself influences growth negatively. The importance of simulating natural soil solutions in experiments is emphazised, in order to obtain information on the importance of chemical soil factors to the distribution of plants.     

Effects of aluminium on calcium and magnesium uptake and translocation by root segments of whole seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.)

In the Ardennes, spruce decline is correlated with Mg deficiency caused by acid rain leaching of soil nutrients, associated with solubilization of Al-containing soil minerals. Laboratory experiments were carried out to measure the uptake and translocation of 45Ca and 28 Mg by intact roots of spruce seedlings in solutions containing various amounts of added AlCl3. Translocation rates in the various organs of the seedlings were higher for magnesium than for calcium. A 1 mt M Al nutrient solution had a much stronger inhibitory effect on uptake and translocation of Mg than it had on Ca. These rate differences result largely from differences in the chemical characteristics of these two elements.     

Mechanism of phosphorus-induced zinc deficiency in cotton. II. Evidence for impaired shoot control of phosphorus uptake and translocation under zinc deficiency

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Deltapine 15/21) plants were precultured for 19 to 25 days under controlled climatic conditions in nutrient solutions with different levels of Zn. With the onset of visual Zn-deficiency symptoms the pH of the nutrient solution decreased from 6.0 to about 5.0. In contrast, Zn-sufficient plants raised the pH of the nutrient solution to about 7.0. In short-term studies it could be demonstrated that the Zn nutritional status of the plants remarkably influenced the uptake and translocation rates of mineral nutrients. Compared to Zn-sufficient plants, P uptake rate in severely Zn-deficient plants was increased by a factor of 2 to 3, whereas the uptake rates of K, Ca and particularly NO₃ decreased. The accumulation of P in the roots of Zn-deficient plants was either not affected or even lower than in Zn-sufficient plants. Thus, Zn deficiency had a specific enhancement effect on root to shoot transport of P. This enhancement effect of Zn deficiency on uptake and transport of P was similar at nutrient solution pH values of 7.0 and 5.8; i.e. it was not the result of acidification of the nutrient solution. After application of ³⁶CI, ⁸⁶Rb and ³²P to plant stems, basipetal transport of ³⁶CI and ⁸⁶Rb was not affected by the Zn nutritional status of the plants. However, in Zn-deficient plants, only 7.8% of the ³²P was translocated basipetally compared to 34% in the Zn-sufficient plants. A resupply of Zn for 19 h to Zn-deficient plants enhanced basipetal ³²P transport. The results indicate that a feedback mechanism in the shoots is impaired in Zn-deficient plants which controls the P uptake by roots and especially the P transport from roots to shoots. As a result of this impairment toxic concentrations of P accumulate in the leaves. The mechanism responsible is likely the retranslocation of P in the phloem from shoots to roots.     

Availability of fluoride to plants grown in contaminated soils

Two pot experiments were carried out to study uptake of fluoride (F) in clover and grasses from soil. Fluoride concentrations in t Trifolium repens (white clover) and t Lolium multiflorium (ryegrass) were highly correlated with the amounts of H₂O– and 0.01 t M CaCl₂–extractable F in soil when increasing amounts of NaF were added to two uncontaminated soils (r=0.95–0.98, t p<0.001). The amounts of H₂O– or 0.01 t M CaCl₂–extractable F did not explain the F concentrations to a similar extent in t Agrostis capillaris (common bent) grown in 12 soils (Cambic Arenosols) collected from areas around the Al smelters at Å: rdal and Sunndal in Western Norway (r=0.68–0.78). This may be due to variation in soil pH and other soil properties in the 12 soils. Soil extraction with 1 t M HCl did not estimate plant–available F in the soil as well as extraction with H₂O or 0.01 t M CaCl₂. Fluoride and Al concentrations in the plant material were positively correlated in most cases. Fluoride and Ca concentrations in the plant material were negatively correlated in the first experiment. No consistent effects were found on the K or Mg concentrations in the plant material. The F accumulation in clover was higher than in the grasses. The uptake from soil by grasses was relatively low compared to the possible uptake from air around the Al smelters. The uptake of F in common bent did not exceed the recommended limit for F contents in pasture grass (30 mg kg^–1) from soil with 0.5–28 mg F(H₂O) kg^–1 soil. The concentration in ryegrass was about 50 mg F kg^–1 when grown in a highly polluted soil (28 mg F(H₂O) kg^–1 soil). Concentrations in clover exceeded 30 mg F kg^–1 even in moderately polluted soil (1.3–7 mg F(H₂O) kg^–1 soil). Liming resulted in slightly lower F concentrations in the plant material.     

Monitoring uptake and contents of Mg,Ca and K in Norway spruce as influenced by pH and Al,using microprobe analysis and stable isotope labelling

In a model system using intact spruce trees (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) we followed the path of magnesium, calcium and potassium during uptake into the root and during long-range transport into the shoot, by multiple stable isotope labelling. The roots of two- and three-year-old spruce trees originating from soil culture were removed from the soil and, in part or in toto, exposed to labelling solutions containing the stable isotopes ²⁵Mg or ²⁶Mg, ⁴¹K and ⁴²Ca or ⁴⁴Ca. Optical-emission-spectroscopy (ICP-OES) of plant fractions and labelling solutions was combined with the quantitative analysis of stable isotope ratios in sections of shock frozen, cryosubstituted material using the laser-microprobe-mass-analyser (LAMMA). This combination allowed us to distinguish, both in bulk samples and on the cellular level between (i) the fraction of elements originally present in the plant before the start of the labelling, (ii) the material taken up from the labelling solution into the plant and (iii) any material released by the plant into the labelling solution.In single-root labelling experiments, roots of three-year-old spruce trees, grown in nursery soil, were exposed to various pH conditions. The exchange of Mg and Ca with the labelling solution was nearly 100% in the cell walls of the mycorrhized finest roots. This exchange was only slightly affected by a step down to pH 3.5. The absolute Mg and Ca content in the cell walls was moderately reduced by incubation at pH 3.5 and strongly reduced in the presence of Al at this pH. After a pH 3.5 and 2 mM Al treatment we found Al in the xylem cell walls and the cortex cell lumina at elevated concentrations. To analyse the combined effect of high Al and high proton concentrations on the long-range transport, we used a split-root system. The root mass of an intact two-year-old spruce tree, grown in mineral soil, was divided into even parts and both halves incubated in solutions with two sets of different stable isotopes of Mg and Ca (side A: no Al, ²⁵Mg and ⁴²Ca; side B: +Al, ²⁶Mg and ⁴⁴Ca) and ⁴¹K on both sides. We observed a large uptake of Mg, Ca and K into the plant and a pronounced release. The net uptake of all three elements was lower from the Al-doted solution. In cross-sections of the apical shoot we found after seven-day labelling period about 60–70% of the Mg and Ca and 30% of the K content in the xylem cell walls originating from both labelling solutions. The clear majority of the Mg and Ca label originated from the Al-doted side.     

Magnesium uptake by Al-stressed maize plants with special emphasis on cation interactions at root exchange sites

As aluminium (Al) severely inhibits magnesium (Mg) uptake by many plant species, Mg uptake and Mg-Al interactions in maize (Zea mays L.) were studied in a series of short and long-term experiments. A relationship between Mg uptake and the degree of Mg saturation of exchange or binding sites of the root apoplast (root-CEC) was studied by growing plants in solutions containing: (i) different concentrations of Al, calcium (Ca) and hydrogen (H) ions; and (ii) a number of organic complexes of Al. In short-term experiments, Ca had little effect on the Mg nutrition of maize plants. However, with increasing concentrations of Al and H ions in nutrient solution, there was a decrease in both the degree of Mg saturation of root-CEC and Mg uptake. Effects of pH on cation (H, Al, Mg, Ca) binding at the root apoplasm were pronounced and complicated because of a simultaneous change of H ion concentration, effective root-CEC and Al speciation. The behaviour of Al as organic Al complexes differed from that supplied as aluminium chloride (AlCl₃). In the presence of organo-Al complexes, less Mg was replaced from apoplastic binding sites and Mg uptake was inhibited less severely than with AlCl₃. In a long-term experiment, Al-citrate, in contrast with AlCl₃, was not phytotoxic to maize, expressed by the lack of any inhibition of shoot biomass production.