Strategies in a metallophyte species to cope with manganese excess

The effect of exposure to high Mn concentration was studied in a metallophyte species, Erica andevalensis, using hydroponic cultures with a range of Mn concentrations (0.06, 100, 300, 500, and 700 mg L-1). At harvest, biomass production, element uptake, and biochemical indicators of metal stress (leaf pigments, organic acids, amino acids, phenols, and activities of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) were determined in leaves and roots. Increasing Mn concentrations led to a decrease in biomass accumulation, and tip leaves chlorosis was the only toxicity symptom detected. In a similar way, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a and b, and carotenoids) were affected by high Mn levels. Among organic acids, malate and oxalate contents in roots showed a significant increase at the highest Mn concentration, while in leaves, Mn led to an increasing trend in citrate and malate contents. An increase of Mn also induced an increase in superoxide dismutase activity in roots and catalase activity in leaves. As well, significant changes in free amino acids were induced by Mn concentrations higher than 300 mg L-1, especially in roots. No significant changes in phenolic compounds were observed in the leaves, but root phenolics were significantly increased by increasing Mn concentrations in treatments. When Fe supply was increased 10 and 20 times (7–14 mg Fe L-1 as Fe-EDDHA) in the nutrient solutions at the highest Mn concentration (700 mg Mn L-1), it led to significant increases in photosynthetic pigments and biomass accumulation. Manganese was mostly accumulated in the roots, and the species was essentially a Mn excluder. However, considering the high leaf Mn concentration recorded without toxicity symptoms, E. andevalensis might be rated as a Mn-tolerant speciesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Changes in anatomy and root cell ultrastructure of soybean genotypes under manganese stress Alterações anatômicas e ultraestruturais em genótipos de soja pela desordem nutricional em manganês

The deleterious effects of both Mn deficiency and excess on the development of plants have been evaluated with regard to aspects of shoot anatomy, ultrastructure and biochemistry, focusing mainly on the manifestation of visual symptoms. However, there is little information in the literature on changes in the root system in response to Mn supply. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Mn doses (0.5, 2.0 and 200.0 &#956;mol L-1) in a nutrient solution on the anatomy of leaves and roots of the Glycine max (L.) cultivars Santa Rosa, IAC-15 and IAC-Foscarin 31. Visual deficiency symptoms were first observed in Santa Rosa and IAC-15, which were also the only cultivars where Mn-toxicity symptoms were observed. Only in IAC-15, a high Mn supply led to root diameter thickening, but without alteration in cells of the bark, epidermis, exodermis and endodermis. The degree of disorganization of the xylem vessels, in particular the metaxylem, differed in the cultivars. Quantity and shape of the palisade parenchyma cells were influenced by both Mn deficiency and toxicity. A reduction in the number of chloroplasts was observed in the three Mn-deficient genotypes. The anatomical alterations in IAC-15 due to nutritional stress were greater, as expressed in extensive root cell cytoplasm disorganization and increased vacuolation at high Mn doses. The degree of changes in the anatomical and ultrastructural organization of roots and leaves of the soybean genotypes studied differed, suggesting the existence of tolerance mechanisms to different intensities of Mn deficiency or excess.<br>Os efeitos negativos provocados não apenas pela deficiência mas também pela toxidez de Mn no desenvolvimento das plantas têm sido avaliados considerando-se os aspectos anatômicos, de ultraestrutura e bioquímicos da parte aérea particularmente, onde os sintomas visuais são manifestados. Entretanto, há escassez na literatura de informações que abordem o sistema radicular. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram avaliar os efeitos do fornecimento de doses de Mn (0,5, 2,0 e 200,0 &#956;mol L-1), em solução nutritiva, na anatomia e ultraestrutura de folhas e de raízes dos cultivares de Glycine max (L.): Santa Rosa, IAC-15 e IAC-Foscarin 31. Os sintomas visuais de deficiência foram observados primeiramente em Santa Rosa e IAC-15, os únicos a exibirem sintomas de toxidez. As doses de Mn promoveram espessamento do diâmetro radicular somente em IAC-15, porém sem alteração nas células do córtex, da epiderme, exoderme e endoderme. Os cultivares mostraram distintos graus de organização dos vasos de xilema, particularmente nos elementos de metaxilema. O número e a conformação das células dos mesofilos paliçádicos foram alterados pelas condições de deficiência e toxidez. Houve redução na quantidade de cloroplastos, nos três genótipos, somente na condição de deficiência. O genótipo IAC-15 apresentou maiores alterações devido ao estresse nutricional, como separação do protoplasma da parede celular radicular e incremento de células vacuoladas na mais alta dose. Os genótipos apresentaram diferentes graus de alterações anatômicas e ultraestruturais das folhas e raízes, sugerindo a operação de mecanismos de tolerância à deficiência ou à toxidez de intensidade diversa

Silicon in vascular plants: uptake, transport and its influence on mineral stress under acidic conditions

So far, considerable advances have been achieved in understanding the mechanisms of Si uptake and transport in vascular plants. This review presents a comprehensive update about this issue, but also provides the new insights into the role of Si against mineral stresses that occur in acid soils. Such information could be helpful to understand both the differential Si uptake ability as well as the benefits of this mineral element on plants grown under acidic conditions. Silicon (Si) has been widely recognized as a beneficial element for many plant species, especially under stress conditions. In the last few years, great efforts have been made to elucidate the mechanisms involved in uptake and transport of Si by vascular plants and recently, different Si transporters have been identified. Several researches indicate that Si can alleviate various mineral stresses in plants growing under acidic conditions, including aluminium (Al) and manganese (Mn) toxicities as well as phosphorus (P) deficiency all of which are highly detrimental to crop production. This review presents recent findings concerning the influence of uptake and transport of Si on mineral stress under acidic conditions because a knowledge of this interaction provides the basis for understanding the role of Si in mitigating mineral stress in acid soils. Currently, only four Si transporters have been identified and there is little information concerning the response of Si transporters under stress conditions. More investigations are therefore needed to establish whether there is a relationship between Si transporters and the benefits of Si to plants subjected to mineral stress. Evidence presented suggests that Si supply and its subsequent accumulation in plant tissues could be exploited as a strategy to improve crop productivity on acid soils