Influence of lanthanum on the uptake of trace elements in cucumber plant

The effects of La³⁺ on the uptake of trace elements (Se, Co, V, and Tc) in cucumber plants were studied by a radioactive multitracer technique. It was observed that the uptake and distribution of these trace elements in roots, stems, and leaves are different under different La³⁺ treatments. Furthermore, in the control, the plant accumulates ⁷⁵Se, ⁵⁶Co, and ⁴⁸V all in the order roots>leaves>stems, whereas ^95mTc was in the order leaves>stems>roots. The accumulations of ⁷⁵Se and ^95mTc in plants treated with different La³⁺ concentration were in the same order as those in the control, but the uptakes percentages of other kinds of element changed differently. The results indicate that lanthanum treatments to a growing cucumber lead to the change of uptake of trace elements, which suggest that a rare earth element is directly or indirectly involved in the ion transport of the plant and affects plant growth by regulating the uptake and distribution of elements that influence the plant cell physiology and biochemistry.