title: Arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata efficiently solubilized phosphate rock to sustain plant growth and As uptake.
abstract: Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important nutrients for phytoremediation of arsenic (As)-contaminated soils. In this study, we demonstrated that As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata was efficient in acquiring P from insoluble phosphate rock (PR). When supplemented with PR as the sole P source in hydroponic systems, P. vittata accumulated 49% and 28% higher P in the roots and fronds than the -P treatment. In contrast, non-hyperaccumulator Pteris ensiformis was unable to solubilize P from PR. To gain insights into PR solubilization by plants, organic acids in plant root exudates were analyzed by HPLC. The results showed that phytic acid was the predominant (>90%) organic acid in P. vittata root exudates whereas only oxalic acid was detected in P. ensiformis. Moreover, P. vittata secreted more phytic acid in -P and PR treatments. Compared to oxalic acid, phytic acid was more effective in solubilizing PR, suggesting that phytic acid was critical for PR utilization. Besides, secretion of phytic acid by P. vittata was not inhibited by arsenate. Our data indicated that phytic acid played an important role in efficient use of insoluble PR by P. vittata, shedding light on using insoluble PR to enhance phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils.
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Yong-He
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210023, China; Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, South West Forestry University, Yunnan 650224, China.
authors.forename: Hanyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
authors.forename: Letuzia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, South West Forestry University, Yunnan 650224, China.
authors.forename: Yungen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States.
authors.forename: Bala
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rathinasabapathi
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210023, China. Electronic address: chenyanshan@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yanshan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Jiangsu 210023, China; Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: lqma@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Lena Q
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D053147:Plant Exudates / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000502:physiology*; D032495:Pteris / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D053147:Plant Exudates; D010833:Phytic Acid; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenate; Phosphate; Phosphate rock; Phytic acid; Pteris ensiformis; Pteris vittata; Root exudates