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Kinetics of metal toxicity in plant roots and its effects on root morphology

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Abstract

Aims

Elevated levels of metals reduce plant growth, including contaminated, acid, and saline soils, but much remains unknown regarding their mechanisms of toxicity. In this regard, it is important to understand the kinetics of changes in root elongation rate (RER) and root morphology.

Methods

Seedlings of soybean (Glycine max) were grown in solutions containing toxic levels of one of seven metals that differed markedly in their properties (Ag, Al, Ca, Cu, Hg, Na, and Sr), with mannitol and ‘mixed salts’ treatments also included.

Results

Despite their widely differing properties, all treatments caused similar symptoms, with roots swelling radially within the elongation zone, possibly associated with ethylene or auxin. In addition, Ag, Al, Cu, and Hg caused a rupturing of the outer root tissues likely associated with inhibition of wall loosening. Finally, using kinematic analyses to examine the effects of Hg in 5 min intervals, it was found that RER decreased by 50% after only 40 min, primarily associated with a decrease in the rate at which individual cells were elongating.

Conclusions

The information provided here will assist in understanding the mechanisms by which toxic levels of metals reduce root elongation.

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Abbreviations

LEZ:

Length of the elongation zone

MEER:

Maximum elemental elongation rate

RER:

Root elongation rate

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Kopittke is the recipient of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship (FT120100277).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Peter M. Kopittke

  2. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China

    Peng Wang

  3. Centre for Soil and Environmental Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Peng Wang

Authors
  1. Peter M. Kopittke
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  2. Peng Wang
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Correspondence to Peng Wang.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Juan Barcelo.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

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Supplementary Video S1

A time-lapse video compiled from the kinematic analysis (Experiment 3) showing the growth of soybean roots in a solution containing 1 μM Hg, with a radial swelling forming. The video represents the period from 447 to 745 min after initially exposing the root to Hg. (AVI 10987 kb)

Supplementary Video S2

A time-lapse video compiled showing the growth of soybean roots in a solution containing 1 μM NPA, with a radial swelling forming. The video represents the period from 564 to 764 min after initially exposing the root to NPA. (AVI 8393 kb)

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Kopittke, P.M., Wang, P. Kinetics of metal toxicity in plant roots and its effects on root morphology. Plant Soil 419, 269–279 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3342-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3342-6

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