Elemental composition of plants from the serpentine soil of Sugashima Island, Japan

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takafumi Mizuno ◽  
Yoko Kirihata

Sugashima Island has the largest community of Buxus microphylla in Japan and a unique flora of several serpentine-associated plants. We determined the concentrations of metals (iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and strontium (Sr)) and macro elements (potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)) in 75 plants inhabiting this area and considered the key to their adaptation to the high-metal environment. The soil showed typical serpentine characteristics of high Ni, Cr, Co and low Ca : Mg quotient, and the soil pH(H2O) ranged from 6.2 to 8.6. Buxus microphylla had the highest Ni concentration (400 mg kg–1) among the plants collected, and Viola grypoceras and Swertia japonica accumulated over 100 mg kg–1 Ni. Swertia japonica accumulated the highest concentrations of Fe, Cr and Co, and Dendropanax trifidus accumulated the highest concentrations of Mn and Zn. The concentrations of Ni and Fe in the plants, particularly in some alkalophilic plants that are found in areas with calcareous soil in Japan, were significantly correlated. Our results suggested that active Fe uptake could be one of the key characteristics for plant adaptation to and survival on the serpentine soils of Sugashima Island, although the dominance of B. microphylla may be associated with its strong Ni tolerance without accumulating high concentrations of Fe.

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon W. Irvine ◽  
Natalie Korkola ◽  
Martin J. Stillman

Metallothioneins (MTs) are characterized by their high metal loading capacity, small molecular weight, and abundant cysteine residues. It has long been thought that metal-free, or apo-MT peptides were unstructured and only adopted as a distinct conformation upon forming the metal clusters, described as metal-induced folding. More recent studies have suggested that the presence of a globular, yet loosely defined structure actually exists that can be disrupted or unfolded. Residue modification and ion-mobility ESI (IM-ESI)-MS have been used to examine this unusual unfolding process. The structure of apo-MT plays a critical role as the starting point in the flexible metalation pathways that can accommodate numerous soft metals. ESI-MS measurements of the product species formed following the cysteine alkylation of the isolated domain fragments of recombinant human apo-MT 1A with n-ethylmaleimide (NEM) were used in the present study to monitor the denaturant- and heat-induced unfolding at physiological pH. The results indicate that these apo-MT fragments adopt distinct structures at neutral pH that react co-operatively with NEM when folded and non-cooperatively when heated or exposed to high concentrations of the denaturant guanidinium chloride (GdmCl). From these studies, we can conclude that at neutral pH, the domain fragments are folded into globular structures where some of the free cysteine residues are buried within the core and are stabilized by hydrogen bonds. Metalation therefore, must take place from the folded conformation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verónica Asensio Fandiño ◽  
Flora A. Vega ◽  
Rubén Forján ◽  
Emma F. Covelo

The sorption capacity for Ni, Pb and Zn of mine tailings soil with and without reclamation treatment (tree planting and waste amendment) was evaluated using the batch adsorption technique. It is important to determine the capacity of waste-amended soils to retain Ni, Pb and Zn, as the sludges used usually have high concentrations of these metals. The results obtained in the present study showed that the untreated mine tailings soil had a low capacity for Ni, Pb and Zn retention. The sorption capacity for Pb increased significantly in all of the treated soils, without any significant differences between them. The treatment that most increased the sorption capacity for Ni and Zn was planting with trees and amending with waste simultaneously, as this increased the concentration of both organic and inorganic carbon, exchangeable calcium, soil pH and effective cation exchange capacity


Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. McLaughlin ◽  
K. G. Tiller ◽  
M. K. Smart

Fifty commercial potato crops and associated soils were sampled. Soil solutions were extracted from rewetted soils by centrifugation, and solution composition was related to Cd concentrations in tubers. Soils were also extracted with 0·01 M Ca(NO3)2 and 0·01 M CaCl2 solutions, and Cd2+ activities in the extracts were calculated by difference using the stability constants for formation of CdCl2-nn species. The soils had saline solutions (>4 dS/m), and Cl- and SO2-4 in solution markedly affected the speciation of Cd in soil solution, with chloro-complexes, in particular, dominating. While low soil pH was associated with high (>25 nM) concentrations of Cd in soil solution, chloro-complexation also led to high concentrations of Cd in solution, even at neutral to alkaline soil pH values. Tuber Cd concentrations were not related to activities of Cd2+ in soil solution or to activities in dilute salt extracts of soil. Tuber Cd concentrations were related to the degree of chloro-complexation of Cd in solution. The relationship of tuber Cd concentrations to chloro-complexation in soil solution suggests that Cd species other than the free Cd2+ ion are involved in the transport through soil and uptake of Cd by plants.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. Fuller ◽  
D. Wang ◽  
D. W. Anderson

Calcareous organic-matter-rich Black Chernozemic soils often persist under poplar forests in Saskatchewan, not acquiring the Ae horizons and related properties more characteristic of Gray Luvisol soils. These are Rego Black Chernozems, locally termed "Wooded Calcareous" because of the occurrence of a dark, calcareous horizon (AC) at depths of 10 to 30 cm. We hypothesize that dark, calcareous horizons are former Bm horizons that have been recarbonated because of intense biocycling of Ca by aspen (Populus tremuloides). The comparatively small amounts of carbonate occur mainly in the fine silt and clay fractions, and are dominantly calcite, indicating secondary origin, in comparison to the carbonate minerals of the Ck horizons where both calcite and dolomite occur, the latter more common in coarse fractions. The δ13C values of the carbonate minerals indicate that virtually all the carbonate in fine fractions of the upper horizons of the Wooded Calcareous soil is pedogenic. The dominance of pedogenic carbonate in the Ahk and AC horizons of the Wooded Calcareous soil is consistent with a secondary enrichment, a probable result of increased biocycling of Ca where aspen grows on sites with large amounts of soluble Ca in the subsoil. High concentrations of soluble Ca2+ and SO42− in the LFH of the Wooded Calcareous are consistent with increasing biocycling of these ions, from a gypsum-rich subsoil. Key words: Pedogenic carbonate, prairie-forest transition, stable carbon isotopes, biocycling, δ13C values


2009 ◽  
Vol 71-73 ◽  
pp. 279-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Orell ◽  
C.A. Navarro ◽  
Carlos A. Jerez

Extremophiles such as the acidophilic Sulfolobus metallicus (Archaea) and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Bacteria) can resist Cu (CuSO4) concentrations of 200 mM and 800 mM respectively. These microorganisms are important in biomining processes to extract copper and other metals. A. ferrooxidans grown at low Cu concentrations (5 mM) expressed genes coding for ATPases most likely involved in pumping the metal from the cytoplasm to the periplasm of the bacterium. At 100 mM Cu the previous systems were repressed and there was a great induction in the expression of efflux systems known to use the proton motive force energy to export the metal outside the cell. These Cu-resistance determinants from A. ferrooxidans were found to be functional since when expressed in Escherichia coli they conferred higher Cu tolerance to it. Novel Cu-resistance determinants for A. ferrooxidans were found and characterized. S. metallicus possessed at least 2 CopM metallochaperones and 2 CopA ATPases whose expressions were induced by Cu (5 to 50 mM). Furthermore, we previously reported that both microorganisms accumulate high levels of inorganic polyphosphate (PolyP) and that intracellular Cu concentration stimulates polyP hydrolysis. The resulting Pi would then be transported out of the cell as a metal-Pi complex to detoxify the cells. In addition, our results suggest that at high Cu concentrations polyP could also provide energy for the metal efflux. All the data suggest that both biomining microorganisms use different systems to respond to Cu depending on the extracellular concentrations of the metal and suggest that the presence of different additional systems to respond to Cu may explain the extremely high metal resistance of these extremophiles.


1990 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
G. Kidder ◽  
M.J. Holsinger ◽  
T.H. Yeager

Abstract Wettable sulfur (S) mixed with a Pineda fine sand (an Arenic Glossaqualf with 7.8 pH and 1.5% calcium carbonate equivalent) quickly acidified the soil, but the effect was lost within 8 weeks at low application rates and within 21 weeks at the highest rate (1 g S/kg soil or 1 lb S/1000 lb soil). Granular S mixed with the soil took one year to produce maximum pH reduction of 0.3, 0.4, and 0.9 pH units at 250, 500, and 1000 mg S/kg soil (1/4, 1/2, and 1 lb S/1000 lb soil), respectively . Wettable sulfur (S), surface-applied at 100 g/m2 (0.036 oz/10 ft2), lowered the pH of the upper 5 cm (2 in) of soil to the 5.6 to 5.8 range for one to two months before the pH returned to > 7.0; granular S took about five months to lower the pH to 6.7 but the soil pH was 6.2 two years after application. Wettable S at 20 g/kg soil (0.32 oz S/lb soil) in a small cylindrical zone resulted in a temporary depression of pH within the treated zone but had no effect on pH in other areas of the container. Mixing up to 1.0 g iron sulfate/kg soil (0.016 oz/lb soil) failed to reduce soil pH. Live-oak trunk diameter and plant height were not affected by any of the soil treatments in the two-year experiment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 2111-2120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Filimonova ◽  
Natalia Lukina ◽  
Margarita Glazyrina ◽  
Galina Borisova ◽  
Tripti ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare eco-physiological and morphological parameters of a regionally endangered orchid species, Epipactis atrorubens (Hoffm. ex Bernh.) Bess., growing in two forest communities (on serpentine and granite outcrops) of the Middle Urals, Russia. Biodiversity, dominance, and phytocoenosis studies showed the colonization of a wide range of plant species on both sites. The physicochemical properties of the soil, chemical composition and morphological features of E. atrorubens, growing under technogenic conditions (asbestos deposits), on serpentine outcrops and in the natural environment of the granite massif were studied for the first time. The serpentine substrate differed from the granite one by its greater stoniness, circumneutral pH and lower contents of available nitrogen and phosphorus. Extremely high concentrations of magnesium were found in the serpentine soil, some 79 times higher than in the granite substrate. High concentrations of nickel (94 times), chromium (59 times), cobalt (17 times), and iron (4 times) were found in the serpentine substrate, higher than in the granite substrate. The differences between the sites for available metal contents and for root and shoot metal contents were significantly less. Concentrations of most of the metals in the roots were higher than in the shoots. Despite higher metal concentrations and lower nitrogen and phosphorus levels in serpentine soils, E. atrorubens had a larger population and greater viability compared to those growing on granite. Plants on serpentine outcrops were characterized by the formation of a larger number of fruits, greater root lengths and thicker leaf blades, compared to plants on granites. The well-developed orchid mycorrhizae contributed to the survival of this species under unfavorable serpentine conditions. Hence, serpentine outcrops formed due to the mining of asbestos could be a suitable substrate for the light-demanding E. atrorubens due to its capacity to adapt to dry, rocky, nutrient-depleted soils and limited competition from other plants.


2018 ◽  
pp. 129-136
Author(s):  
Jeff D Morton ◽  
Jim L Moir

As most New Zealand pastoral soils are acidic, aluminium (Al) can be present at high concentrations and restrict plant root growth and shoot yield. In field trials, Al toxicity in white clover has been associated with CaCl2-extractable soil Al levels of 3-5 ppm or exchangeable soil KCl-extractable levels of 1-2 me/100g, when soil pH levels were below 5.5-5.7 in the top 75 mm. Lucerne is less tolerant of Al toxicity than white clover and ryegrass, which in turn are less tolerant than Lotus spp., arrow leaf, subterranean, Caucasian, Persian and gland clovers, and naturalised adventive annuals such as cluster, haresfoot, striated and suckling clovers. Soil Al toxicity generally increases with soil depth. Soil pH is a reliable indicator of soil Al and, on average, can be increased by 0.1 units/tonne/ha of applied lime to reduce soil Al to below the toxic range. Lime application is the most effective strategy where it can be ground-applied. A key limitation of ground-applied lime to reduce Al toxicity is that its movement down the soil only occurs slowly except in high rainfall areas. Soil Al and pH levels and legume content in hill soils varies according to slope and aspect and there is an opportunity to differentially apply lime by air to areas with low soil pH and more legume, for the best economic return.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1073-1076 ◽  
pp. 340-349
Author(s):  
Si Luo ◽  
Wen Wang ◽  
Xi Hong Zhou ◽  
Qing Ru Zeng

It has been confirmed that thiourea (TU) was effective in inhibiting urea hydrolysis and nitrite formation. However, few studies focused on the toxicological effects and environmental impacts of TU. In this study, the influences of TU on the soil pH and available metals contents were reported. The addition of thiourea to the urea-treated soils led to a slower decrease or even increase in soil pH. The application of thiourea had slight influence on the content of available Cu in soils. Mn content increased with increasing TU concentration, however, the changes of Zn and Al contents were opposite. Pot culture experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of TU on the physiological characteristics of maize seedlings, including the plant growth, chlorophyll (CHL) content, metal ions uptakes and malondialdehyde (MAD) content in the leaves. 1 mmol kg-1 soil thiourea significantly inhibited the growth of maize seedlings. The application of thiourea enhanced the Mn accumulation in leaves, and negatively affected the Fe uptake, which thereby inhibited the biosynthesis of CHL. There was not any noticeable difference in MDA content in plants treated with 1-2.5 mmol kg-1 soil thiourea. An obvious increase of MDA content was found at 5 mmol kg-1 soil thiourea.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-525
Author(s):  
Ahmet Safak Maltas ◽  
Mustafa Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  

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