Effect of iron plaque outside roots on nutrient uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.): Phosphorus uptake

Under anaerobic conditions, ferric hydroxide deposits on the surface of rice roots have been shown to affect the uptake of some nutrients. In the present experiment, different amount of this iron plaque were induced on the roots of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. TZ88-145) by supplying different Fe(OH)₃ concentrations in nutrient solutions, and the effect of the iron plaque on phosphorus uptake was investigated. Results showed that 1) iron plaque adsorbed phosphorus from the growth medium, and that the amount of phosphorus adsorbed by the plaque was correlated with the amount of plaque; 2) the phosphorus concentration in the shoot increased by up to 72% after 72 h at concentration of Fe(OH)₃ in the nutrient solution from 0 to 30 mg Fe/L, corresponding with amounts of iron plaque from 0.2 to 24.5 mg g^-1 (root d. wt); 3) the phosphorus concentration in the shoots of rice with iron plaque was higher than that without iron plaque though the concentration in the shoot decreased when Fe(OH)₃ was added at 50 mg Fe/L producing 28.3 mg g^-1 (root d. wt) of plaque; and 4) the phosphorus concentrations in Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient rice plants with iron plaque were the same, although phytosiderophores were released from the Fe-deficient roots. The phytosiderophores evidently did not mobilise phosphorus adsorbed on plaque. The results suggest that iron plaque on rice plant roots might be considered a phosphorus reservoir. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

水稻根表铁膜吸附镉及植株吸收镉的动态

采用营养液培养法研究了Cd处理时间对有铁膜和无铁膜水稻根表吸附Cd及植株吸收Cd动态变化的影响.水稻根表铁膜由50 mg·L^-1 Fe^2＋（Fe₅₀）诱导形成.供试植株在含10 μmol·L^-1Cd的营养液中生长不同时间后收获.结果表明, 随Cd处理时间的延长,无铁膜和有铁膜处理水稻根表DCB-Cd含量均为先增加后减少,Cd处理2 h达到最高,之后逐渐下降并趋于稳定. 根系和地上部Cd含量均持续上升,Cd处理8 h前增加缓慢,8 h后增加幅度加大.有铁膜水稻根系和地上部Cd含量增加幅度均低于无铁膜水稻.有铁膜处理DCB-Cd含量、根系和地上部Cd含量均低于无铁膜处理.表明铁膜不影响水稻各部分Cd含量随时间的变化趋势;不同Fe处理之间根系和地上部Cd含量的差异可能与根系含Fe量有关.     

Comparison of plant uptake and plant toxicity of various ions in wheat

The effects of varying solution concentrations of manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), boron (B), iron (Fe), gallium (Ga) and lanthanum (La) on plant chemical concentrations, plant uptake and plant toxicity were determined in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in a low ionic strength (2.7×10^–3 M solution culture). Increasing the solution concentration of Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Fe, Ga and La increased plant concentrations of that ion. Asymptotic maximum plant concentrations were reached for Zn (10 mg kg DM^–1 in the roots), Ga (2 mg kg DM^–1 in the tops and 18 mg kg DM^–1 in the roots) and La (0.4 mg kg DM^–1 in the tops and 4 mg kg DM^–1 in the roots). Plant ion concentrations were, on average, 3 times higher in the roots than the tops for Mn and Zn, 7 times for Cu, 9 times for Fe, 12 times for Ga and 15 times for La. In contrast, B concentrations were higher in the tops than the roots by, on average, 2 times. The estimated toxicity threshold (plant concentration at which a rapid decrease in yield occurred) in the tops was 0.4 mg g DM^–1 for B, 2 for Zn, 0.075 for Cu and 0.09 for La and in the roots 0.2 mg g DM^–1 for B, 5 for Zn, 0.3 for Cu and 3 for La. Plant uptake rates of the ions (as estimated by the slope of the relationship between solution ion concentrations and plant ion concentrations) was in the order B 250 mg kg DM^–1 M ^–1). Plant toxicity was estimated as the reciprocal of the plant concentration that reduced yield by 50% (change in relative yield per mg ion kg DM^–1). The plant toxicity of the ions tested was in the order Mn相似文献   

Toxicity of arsenic (III) and (V) on plant growth, element uptake, and total amylolytic activity of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora x P. velutina)

The effects of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] on the growth of roots, stems, and leaves and the uptake of arsenic (As), micro- and macronutrients, and total amylolytic activity were investigated to elucidate the phytotoxicity of As to the mesquite plant (Prosopis juliflora x P. velutina). The plant growth was evaluated by measuring the root and shoot length, and the element uptake was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The root and leaf elongation decreased significantly with increasing As(III) and As(V) concentrations; whereas, stem elongation remained unchanged. The As uptake increased with increasing As(III) or As(V) concentrations in the medium. Plants treated with 50 mg/L As(III) accumulated up to 920 mg/kg dry weight (d wt) in roots and 522 mg/kg d wt in leaves, while plants exposed to 50 mg/L As(V) accumulated 1980 and 210 mg/kg d wt in roots and leaves, respectively. Increasing the As(V) concentration up to 20 mg/L resulted in a decrease in the total amylolytic activity. On the contrary, total amylolytic activity in As(III)-treated plants increased with increasing As concentration up to 20 mg/L. The macro- and micronutrient concentrations changed in As-treated plants. In shoots, Mo and K were reduced but Ca was increased, while in roots Fe and Ca were increased but K was reduced. These changes reduced the size of the plants, mainly in the As(III)-treated plants; however, there were no visible sign of As toxicity.     

Use of synchrotron- and plasma-based spectroscopic techniques to determine the uptake and biotransformation of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) by Parkinsonia aculeata

In this study, a combination of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to study the uptake and speciation of chromium in Parkinsonia aculeata, commonly known as Mexican Palo Verde. Plants were treated for 14 days in a modified Hoagland solution containing chromium(III) or chromium(VI) at several concentrations. The results showed that plants treated with 70 mg Cr(III) L(-1) and 30 mg Cr(VI) L(-1) had similar Cr concentrations in leaves (～200 mg kg(-1) dry weight, DW). The results also showed that neither Cr(III) nor Cr(VI) affected the uptake of phosphorus and sulfur. However, the concentration of calcium in the stems of plants treated with Cr(VI) at 40 mg L(-1) (about 6000 mg Ca kg(-1) DW) was significantly higher compared to the Ca concentration (about 3000 mg kg(-1) DW) found in the stems of plants treated with 150 mg Cr(III) L(-1). However, no differences were observed in potassium and magnesium concentrations. The iron concentration (about 1000 mg kg(-1) DW) in roots treated with 40 mg Cr(VI) L(-1) was similar to the iron concentration found in the roots of plants treated with 110 mg Cr(III) L(-1). The XAS data showed that Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) in/on the plant roots and transported as Cr(III) to the stems and leaves. The XAS studies also showed that Cr(III) within plants was present as an octahedral complex.     

Do iron plaque and genotypes affect arsenate uptake and translocation by rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) grown in solution culture?

The effects of Fe concentrations in the pretreatment solution on the induction of plaque and the differences between genotypes on arsenate uptake by and translocation within rice seedlings grown in nutrient solution in the greenhouse were investigated. After iron plaque on rice roots was induced in solutions containing 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg Fe2+ l(-1), seedlings were transplanted into nutrient solution with 0.5 mg As l(-1). The formation of iron plaque was clearly visible as a reddish coating on the root surface after 12 h induction. Fe2+ concentrations in the pretreatment solution and 0.5 mg As l(-1) in the treatment solutions did not significantly affect rice growth. There was a significant correlation between the concentrations of Fe and As in iron plaque on the root surface for the three genotypes. About 75-89% of total As was concentrated in iron plaque (DCB-extracts). There were no significant differences in As concentrations in the roots between the three genotypes; however, As concentrations in shoots differed significantly between them. Arsenic concentrations in shoots were positively correlated with iron concentrations in the shoots. The results suggest that iron plaque may act as a 'buffer' for As in the rhizosphere.     

不同栽培方式对籼、粳稻根表铁膜和根铁、镉含量的影响

在Cd污染土壤中研究淹水、覆膜、覆草和湿润栽培对籼、梗稻不同生育时期根表铁膜Fe、Cd含量和根Cd含量的影响．结果表明,在分蘖期,梗稻根表铁膜Fe含量和根Cd含量在4种栽培方式中平均为6．37和25．49mg．kg^-1。分别比籼稻的4．52和16．37mg·kg^-1增加1．85和9．12mg·kg^-1．在孕穗期,粳稻根表铁膜Fe、Cd含量和根Cd含量在4种栽培方式中平均为1．60、16．35和54．68mg·kg^-1,分别比籼稻的1．06、9．56kg和43．31mg·kg^-1增加0．54、6．79和11．37mg·kg^-1．在灌浆期,梗稻根表铁膜Fe含量覆草和湿润栽培为0．89和1．00mg·kg^-1,分别比籼稻的0．63和0．30mg·kg^-1增加0．26和0．70mg·kg^-1;梗稻根表铁膜Cd和根Cd含量在4种栽培方式中平均为15．23和73．68mg·kg^-1,分别比籼稻的3．46和52．38mg·kg^-1增加11．77和21．30mg·kg^-1收获时。根表铁膜Fe含量淹水栽培的籼稻为1．21mg·g^-1,比梗稻的0．65mg·g^-1增加0．56mg·g^-1,覆草栽培的梗稻为0．94mg·g^-1,比籼稻0．55mg·g^-1增加0．39mg·g^-1;根表铁膜Cd含量湿润栽培的梗稻为7．96mg·kg^-1,比籼稻的5．09mg·kg^-1增加2．87mg·kg^-1;根Cd含量梗稻在4种栽培方式中平均为54．53mg·kg^-1,比籼稻的35．91mg·kg^-1增加18．62mg·kg^-1。     

Iron and phosphorus fertilizations and the development of proteoid roots in macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia)

Proteoid roots are reportedly an adaptation to soils with either low phosphorus (P) or iron (Fe) or both. Since macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia, a member of the family Proteaceae) is an important crop in Hawaii, a factorial experiment with soil P levels of 0, 150, and 500 mg/kg and Fe levels of 0, 5, and 10 mg/kg was conducted to evaluate the effects of P and Fe fertilizations and possible Fe x P interactions on proteoid root development and macadamia growth. The soil was a highly weathered Oxisol having 0.015 mg P/L and 0.03 mg Fe/L in the soil solution in its unamended state. Proteoid roots were reduced in number and as a percentage of the total root mass at the highest levels of P and Fe. Phosphorus, however was a major controlling factor. Optimum dry matter associated with at least 10% proteoid roots, corresponding to a P concentration approximately of 0.035 mg/L in soil solution and 0.10% P in leaves. Total Fe in leaves or the amount of Fe applied was not a good predictor of plant growth. In contrast, chlorophyll content, a surrogate of biologically active Fe, was. Soil-solution ratio of Fe ^1/3/ P (molar basis) could be used to predict the response of macadamia growth to P and Fe fertilizations.     

Effect of P and Mn on growth response and uptake of Fe,Mn and P by sorghum

Summary The effects of P and Mn on growth response and uptake of Fe, Mn and P by grain sorghum were investigated using nutrient culture. High P and Mn concentrations in solution (greater than 40 and 1 mg/l for P and Mn, respectively) markedly reduced plant height and shoot and root dry weight of 4-week-old sorghum plants. High Mn concentrations in solution increased the concentrations of Mn and P in shoot tissue and uptake of Mn, but depressed the uptake of P. High levels of P enhanced Mn uptake by sorghum and accentuated Mn toxicity at low Mn levels. The tissue Fe and total uptake of Fe were both reduced markedly by the high levels of P and Mn concentrations in solution. The increases of P, Mn and Fe concentrations in root tissue with a concomitant decrease of Fe in shoots suggested that the translocation of Fe from roots to shoots was hindered under high P and Mn conditions. Since coating occurred on root surfaces and intensified with increasing Mn concentrations in the substrate, part of the reduction of Fe in shoots could be attributed to the formation of high valent manganese oxides on the root surfaces which may retain Fe and reduce its absorption by sorghum.Contribution from the Department of Agronomy and Range Sci., University of California, Davis, CA.     

Ecotypes of Holcus lanatus Tolerant to Zinc Toxicity also Tolerate Zinc Deficiency

Genotypes tolerant to zinc (Zn) toxicity, if they accumulateZn in their roots, may grow better than Zn-sensitive genotypes,even in Zn-deficient soil. In the present study, Holcus lanatusL. ecotypes differing in tolerance to Zn toxicity were grownin Zn-deficient Laffer soil which was amended with Zn to createa range of conditions from Zn deficiency to Zn toxicity. IncreasingZn additions to the soil, up to the sufficiency level, improvedgrowth of all ecotypes. At toxic levels of added Zn, the Zn-sensitiveecotype suffered a greater decrease in growth than the Zn-tolerantecotypes. All ecotypes accumulated more Zn in roots than inshoots, with root concentrations exceeding 8 g Zn kg^-1dry weightin extreme cases. When grown in Zn-deficient or Zn-sufficientsoil (up to 0.5 mg Zn kg^-1soil added), ecotypes tolerant toZn toxicity took up more Zn, grew better and had greater rootand shoot Zn concentration than the control (Zn-sensitive ecotype).Zn-tolerant ecotypes transported more Zn, copper (Cu) and iron(Fe) from roots to shoots in comparison with the Zn-sensitiveecotype. The average Zn uptake rate from Zn-deficient soil (noZn added) was greater in the Zn-tolerant ecotypes than in theZn-sensitive ecotype. In conclusion, ecotypes of H. lanatusthat are tolerant to Zn toxicity also tolerate Zn deficiencybetter than the Zn-sensitive ecotype because of their greatercapacity for taking up Zn from Zn-deficient soil. This is thefirst report of the coexistence of traits for tolerance to Zntoxicity and Zn deficiency in a single plant genotype. Copyright2000 Annals of Botany Company Copper, heavy metal, Holcus lanatus, iron, zinc deficiency, zinc toxicity     

镉胁迫对不同甘蓝基因型光合特性和养分吸收的影响

以2个耐镉(Cd)性不同的甘蓝品种为材料,研究了不同Cd浓度(0、20、50、100μmol.L-1)对甘蓝植株生长、叶片光合特性和养分吸收的影响.结果表明:Cd敏感品种在低浓度Cd(20μmol.L-1)处理下生长受到明显抑制,叶片净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、PSⅡ光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ光合电子传递量子效率(ΦPSⅡ)及地上部、根系干质量显著降低;Cd耐性品种在高浓度Cd(50和100μmol.L-1)处理下生长和光合特性受到显著影响;Cd胁迫降低了甘蓝叶片叶绿素a和b含量,尤其对叶绿素a的影响较大,进而抑制了叶片光合能力.Cd胁迫显著降低了植株对Mn的吸收,抑制了Mg和Fe从根部向地上部的转运,且Cd敏感品种受抑制幅度更大;Cd胁迫促进了Cd耐性品种对P和S的吸收,而Cd敏感品种相反.因此,Cd胁迫下甘蓝敏感品种叶片Mn、Fe、Mg、S和P含量的降低是影响其叶片光合作用,进而抑制植株生长的重要生理原因.     

Influence of external zinc and phosphorus supply on Cd uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings with root surface iron plaque

Rice seedlings were grown in hydroponic culture to determine the effects of external Zn and P supply on plant uptake of Cd in the presence or absence of iron plaque on the root surfaces. Iron plaque was induced by supplying 50 mg l⁻¹ Fe²⁺ in the nutrient solution for 2 day. Then 43-day-old seedlings were exposed to 10 μmol l⁻¹ Cd together with 10 μmol l⁻¹ Zn or without Zn (Zn–Cd experiment), or to 10 μmol l⁻¹ Cd with 1.0 mmol l⁻¹ P or without P (P–Cd experiment) for another 2 day. The seedlings were then harvested and the concentrations of Fe, Zn, P and Cd in dithionite–citrate–bicarbonate (DCB) extracts and in roots and shoots were determined. The dry weights of roots and shoots of seedlings treated with 50 mg l⁻¹ Fe were significantly lower than when no Fe was supplied. Adsorption of Cd, Zn and P on the iron plaque increased when Fe was supplied but Cd concentrations in DCB extracts were unaffected by external Zn or P supply levels. Cd concentrations in shoots and roots were lower when Fe was supplied. Zn additions decreased Cd concentrations in roots but increased Cd concentrations in shoots, whereas P additions significantly increased shoot and root Cd concentrations and this effect diminished when Fe was supplied. The percentage of Cd in DCB extracts was significantly lower than in roots or shoots, accounting for up to 1.8–3.8% of the plant total Cd, while root and shoot Cd were within the ranges 57–76% and 21–40% respectively in the two experiments. Thus, the main barrier to Cd uptake seemed to be the root tissue and the contribution of iron plaque on root surfaces to plant Cd uptake was minor. The changes in plant Cd uptake were not due to Zn or P additions altering Cd adsorption on iron plaque, but more likely because Zn or P interfered with Cd uptake by the roots and translocation to the shoots.     

Iron nutrition affects cadmium accumulation and toxicity in rice plants

The effect of iron (Fe) nutrition on cadmium (Cd) toxicity and accumulation in rice plants was studied using a hydroponic system. The inhibitory effect of Cd on plant growth and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) was dependent on Fe level and the genotype. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaves and roots was not much affected by an increased Cd stress at 0.171 mg l⁻¹ Fe, but it showed a rapid increase when the plants were exposed to moderate (1.89 mg l⁻¹) and high (16.8 mg l⁻¹) Fe levels. High Fe nutrition caused a marked reduction in Cd content in both leaves and roots. Fe content in plants was lower at high Cd (5.0 μM) stress than at low Cd (<1.0 μM) stress. Cd stress increased both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities at low and moderate Fe levels. However, with high Fe level, it increased the POD activity, but reduced the SOD activity. Our results substantiate the hypothesis that cell membrane-bound iron transporter (carrier) involved in high-affinity iron transport systems can also transport Cd, and both these ions may compete for this common carrier. The study further showed that there were significant correlations between MDA and Fe contents in leaves and roots of rice plants. It is suggested that the occurrence of oxidative stress in plants exposed to Cd stress is mediated by Fe nutrition. The present results also show that Cd stress affects the uptake of Cu and Zn.     

Phosphate uptake kinetics by Acinetobacter isolates

Acinetobacter isolates from activated sludge treatment plants of forest industry were used as model organisms for polyphosphate accumulating bacteria to study excess phosphate uptake by the overplus phenomenon as well as luxury uptake of phosphate during growth. The initial, rapid phosphate uptake by the phosphorus-starved Acinetobacter isolates (the overplus phenomenon) followed the Michaelis-Menten model (maximum initial phosphate uptake rate 29 mg P g(-1) dry mass (DM) h(-1), half-saturation constant for excess phosphate uptake 17 mg P L(-1)). During the rapid uptake no growth was observed, but most cells contained polyphosphate granules. Also growth and luxury uptake of phosphate could be modeled with the Michaelis-Menten equation (maximum phosphate uptake rate 3.7-12 mg P g(-1) DM h(-1), half-saturation constant for growth 0.47-6.0 mg P L(-1), maximum specific growth rate 0.15-0.55 h(-1)). (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 53: 304-309, 1997.     

Effect of iron plaque outside roots on nutrient uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.). Zinc uptake by Fe-deficient rice

This solution culture study examined the effect of the deposition of iron plaque on zinc uptake by Fe-deficient rice plants. Different amounts of iron plaque were induced by adding Fe(OH)₃ at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 50 mg Fe/L in the nutrient solution. After 24 h of growth, the amount of iron plaque was correlated positively with the Fe(OH)₃ addition to the nutrient solution. Increasing iron plaque up to 12.1 g/kg root dry weight increased zinc concentration in shoots by 42% compared to that at 0.16 g/kg root dry weight. Increasing the amount of iron plaque further decreased zinc concentration. When the amounts of iron plaque reached 24.9 g/kg root dry weight, zinc concentration in shoots was lower than that in shoots without iron plaque, implying that the plaque became a barrier for zinc uptake. While rice plants were pre-cultured in –Fe and +Fe nutrient solution in order to produce the Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient plants and then Fe(OH)₃ was added at 20, 30, and 50 mg Fe/L in nutrient solution, zinc concentrations in shoots of Fe-deficient plants were 54, 48, and 43 mg/kg, respectively, in contrast to 32, 35, and 40 mg/kg zinc in shoots of Fe-sufficient rice plants. Furthermore, Fe(OH)₃ addition at 20 mg Fe/L and increasing zinc concentration from 0.065 to 0.65 mg Zn/L in nutrient solution increased zinc uptake more in Fe-deficient plants than in Fe-sufficient plant. The results suggested that root exudates of Fe-deficient plants, especially phytosiderophores, could enhance zinc uptake by rice plants with iron plaque up to a particular amount of Fe.     

Manganese and iron interactions on their uptake and distribution in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Summary The uptake and distribution of iron and manganese were studied in a manganese-sensitive soybean cultivar (‘Bragg’) grown over a range of supply levels of these nutrients in solution culture. At high (90 and 275 μM) manganese levels, increasing the iron concentration in solution from 2 to 100 μM partially overcame the effects of manganese toxicity. Interactions between manganese and iron occurred for dry matter yields, rate of Mn absorption by the roots, and the proportions of manganese and iron transported to the tops. No interaction was observed for the rate of root absorption of iron. The percentage distribution of manganese in the plant top increased with increasing iron, despite a reduced rate of Mn uptake. On the other hand, iron uptake was independent of solution Mn concentration and increased with increasing solution Fe. Also more iron was retained in the roots at high Mn and/or Fe levels in solution. Concentrations of manganese and iron in roots, stems and individual leaves were affected independently by the manganese and iron supplyi.e. without any interaction occurring between the two elements. In general, the concentration in a plant part was related directly to the solution concentration. Symptoms resembling iron deficiency correlated poorly with leaf Fe concentrations whereas high levels of manganese were found in leaves displaying Mn toxicity symptoms.     

Arsenate uptake and translocation in seedlings of two genotypes of rice is affected by external phosphate concentrations

Two genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.), 94D-54 and 94D-64 were used to investigate the formation of iron plaque controlled by different phosphorus (P) concentrations and the effect of iron plaque on arsenate uptake in a hydroponic experiment. External P concentrations from 10 to 50 μM caused a marked decrease in dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate (DCB)–Fe concentrations for both genotypes, but further increases from 50 to 300 μM only resulted in small decrease. Arsenic (As) concentrations in DCB-extracts were determined by the amounts of iron plaque and the adsorption capacity of As by iron plaque, and both controlled by external P concentrations. At 10 μM external P, genotype 94D-54 had higher Fe, As and P concentrations in DCB-extracts than genotype 94D-64, but the difference disappeared with increasing P concentrations. Increasing P concentrations decreased the percentages of As distributed in iron plaque from around 70 to 10%, and increased the percentages of As in roots and shoots gradually from around 20 to 60% for toots and from 5 to nearly 35% for shoots, respectively. Moreover, P concentration increased the molar ratio of shoot-to-root As, from 0.05 to nearly 0.2, indicating P concentration may promote As translocation from roots to shoots.     

The influence of salinity on phosphate uptake and distribution in lupin roots

Treeby, M. T. and van Steveninck, R. F. M. 1988. The influence of salinity on phosphate uptake and distribution in lupin roots. - Physiol. Plant. 72: 617–622.
The uptake and distribution of phosphate in lupin ( Lupinus luteus L. cv. Weiko III) roots under moderate salt (NaCl) stress was studied. Vacuolar inorganic phosphate (PJ concentrations in high phosphate plants were decreased by salt, although whole root P| was unaffected. In low phosphate plants, vacuolar P_i was unaffected by salt while whole root P_i was increased. Phosphate uptake was not altered by salt in high phosphate plants, but was depressed in low phosphate plants. These observations lead to the conclusion that in high phosphate plants P_i accumulates in cytoplasm and/or stele, ultimately giving rise to phosphate toxicity in shoots. Increasing phosphate supply had no effect on Na⁺ accumulation in root cell vacuoles in the epidermis or cortex, but the concentration of Cl⁻ in endodermal vacuoles was lowered.     

Mycorrhiza and soil bacteria influence extractable iron and manganese in soil and uptake by soybean

Excess manganese (Mn) in soil is toxic to crops, but in some situations arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alleviate the toxic effects of Mn. Besides the increased phosphorus (P) uptake, mycorrhiza may affect the balance between Mn-reducing and Mn-oxidizing microorganisms in the mycorrhizosphere and affect the level of extractable Mn in soil. The aim of this work was to compare mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants that received extra P in relation to alleviation of Mn toxicity and the balance between Mn-oxidizing and Mn-reducing bacteria in the mycorrhizosphere. A clayey soil containing 508 mg kg⁻¹ of extractable Mn was fertilized with 30 mg kg⁻¹ (P1) or 45 mg kg⁻¹ (P2) of soluble P. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill, cv. IAC 8-2) plants at P1 level were non-inoculated (CP1) or inoculated with either Glomus etunicatum (GeP1) or G. macrocarpum (GmP1), while plants at P2 level were left non-inoculated (CP2). Plants were grown in a greenhouse and harvested after 80 days. In the mycorrhizosphere of the GmP1 and GeP1 plants a shift from Mn-oxidizing to Mn-reducing bacteria coincided with higher soil extractability of Mn and Fe. However, the occurrence of Mn-oxidizing/reducing bacteria in the (mycor)rhizosphere was unrelated to Mn toxicity in plants. Using 16S rDNA sequence homologies, the Mn-reducing isolates were consistent with the genus Streptomyces. The Mn-oxidizers were homologous with the genera Arthrobacter, Variovorax and Ralstonia. While CP1 plants showed Mn toxicity throughout the whole growth period, CP2 plants never did, in spite of having Fe and Mn shoot concentrations as high as in CP1 plants. Mycorrhizal plants showed Mn toxicity symptoms early in the growth period that were no longer visible in later growth stages. The shoot P concentration was almost twice as high in mycorrhizal plants compared with CP1 and CP2 plants. The shoot Mn and Fe concentrations and contents were lower in GmP1 and GeP1 plants compared with the CP2 treatment, even though levels of extractable metals increased in the soil when plants were mycorrhizal. This suggests that mycorrhiza protected its host plant from excessive uptake of Mn and Fe. In addition, higher tissue P concentrations may have facilitated internal detoxification of Mn in mycorrhizal plants. The exact mechanisms acting on alleviation of Mn toxicity in mycorrhizal plants should be further investigated.     

A study of the mobilization of iron in tomato roots by chelate treatments

Summary These results have indicated that chelating agents supplied to roots of intact tomato plants at suitable concentration, are effective in mobilization and subsequent movement to the aerial tissue of part of the iron fixed in or on them, with an accompanying movement of phosphate which appears to be the main ion responsible for the fixation. This is believed to occur through a process of initial outward diffusion of iron and phosphate from the roots and subsequent uptake and translocation of the chelated iron by the plants.