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A preliminary survey of nickel, manganese and zinc (hyper)accumulation in the flora of Papua New Guinea from herbarium X-ray fluorescence scanning

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Abstract

The flora of Papua New Guinea is amongst the richest in the world with an estimated 25,000 plant species. The extreme levels of biodiversity, climatic ranges and soil types suggest a high possibility of metal hyperaccumulator plants existing in Papua New Guinea. However, no hyperaccumulator plants have been reported from this region yet. The use of handheld X-ray fluorescence instruments is a non-destructive and effective method for the systematic quantitative assessment of hyperaccumulation in vast numbers of herbarium specimens. X-ray fluorescence scanning was undertaken at the Queensland Herbarium (Australia) on all Papua New Guinea specimens from seven major families (Celastraceae, Cunoniaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Proteaceae, Rubiaceae, Salicaceae and Violaceae), covering 3164 plant specimens. This preliminary survey revealed the existence of ten zinc hyperaccumulator species (> 3000 µg g−1 Zn), eight manganese accumulator species (> 5000 µg g−1 Mn) and one nickel hyperaccumulator species (> 1000 µg g−1 Ni). These results highlight the potential for discovery of numerous new metal hyperaccumulator plants from the flora of Papua New Guinea if larger-scale systematic screening efforts were undertaken.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Nigel Fechner, senior Mycologist (Queensland Herbarium, DES, Brisbane Botanic Gardens) for identification of the ascomycete. Christina Do was funded through the Pacific Islands Universities Research Network and Pacific Fund projects “PACIFIC NICKELATORS: Advancing nickel hyperaccumulator plants discovery and utilization for mining site rehabilitation across Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and Australia”. A. van der Ent was the recipient of a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DE160100429) from the Australian Research Council. Farida Abubakari is the recipient of a UQ Graduate School Scholarship (UQGSS) from The University of Queensland. A. Corzo Remigio is the recipient of the University of Queensland Research Training Scholarship, Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Exact and Applied Sciences, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia

    Christina Do & Valérie Burtet-Sarramegna

  2. Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Farida Abubakari, Amelia Corzo Remigio, Vidiro Gei, Peter D. Erskine & Antony van der Ent

  3. Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Herbarium, Toowong, Australia

    Gillian K. Brown

  4. Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Lachlan W. Casey

  5. Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, Université de Lorraine-INRA, UMR 1120, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Antony van der Ent

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  1. Christina Do
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  2. Farida Abubakari
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  3. Amelia Corzo Remigio
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  4. Gillian K. Brown
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  5. Lachlan W. Casey
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Correspondence to Antony van der Ent.

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Do, C., Abubakari, F., Remigio, A.C. et al. A preliminary survey of nickel, manganese and zinc (hyper)accumulation in the flora of Papua New Guinea from herbarium X-ray fluorescence scanning. Chemoecology 30, 1–13 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-019-00293-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-019-00293-1

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