Root responses to soil Ni heterogeneity in a hyperaccumulator and a non-accumulator species.
We compared root responses of the Ni-hyperaccumulator plant Berkheya coddii Rossler with the non-accumulator plant Cicer arietinum L. to Ni heterogeneity in soil. We grew plants in growth containers filled with control soil, homogeneously spiked, and heterogeneously spiked soil with Ni concentrations of 62 and 125 mg kg(-1). Neutron radiography (NR) was used to observe the root distribution and the obtained images were analysed to reveal the root volumes in the spiked and unspiked segments of the growth container. There was no significant difference in root distribution pattern of B. coddii among different concentrations of Ni. Unlike B. coddii, the roots of C. arietinum initially grew into the spiked segments. However, the later developing roots did not penetrate the spiked segment suggesting an avoidance strategy. Our results indicate that, B. coddii does not forage towards the Ni-rich patches, although presence of Ni in soil changes its root morphology.
Hydrogeology Department, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany. ahmad.moradi@ufz.de
Ahmad B
AB
Moradi
Héctor M
HM
Conesa
Brett H
BH
Robinson
Eberhard
E
Lehmann
Anders
A
Kaestner
Rainer
R
Schulin
D019659:Asteraceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D029863:Cicer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009532:Nickel / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D009532:Nickel