Investigating the Effects of Toxic Metal(loid) Concentration in Soils in Plant’s Reproductive Strategies
Aug. 28, 2024
Kamila Murawska, UA SRC Trainee and PhD candidate working in Project 5, recently published “Habitat-specific allocations of elements in Atriplex lentiformis seeds indicate adaptation to metal toxicity.”
This research examined the effects of toxic metal(loid) concentration in soils on variability in plant’s reproductive strategies, including germination patterns, elemental uptake, and allocation within the seeds. The study employed advanced imaging techniques combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to reveal significant differences in metal(loid) concentration and distribution within the seed structures from contrasting habitats.
Specific questions asked by this study include:
- How does prolonged exposure to soil metal(loid) toxicity affect the metallomic composition, allocation patterns, and structural characteristics of A. lentiformis (a species of saltbush) seeds?
- Does the presence of elevated metal(loid) levels lead to the exclusion or enhanced accumulation of specific elements within the plant system compared with strategies observed in plants from non-contaminated sites?
- Do plants from metal-contaminated and non-contaminated locations differ in germination rates and seed viability?
The research findings offer novel insights into phenotypic variability and metal tolerance and accumulation in plants from extreme environments. This knowledge can be applied to enhance plant survival and performance in land restoration efforts under harsh conditions.
Publication:
Kamila Murawska-Wlodarczyk, Antony van der Ent, Tomasz Wlodarczyk, Aneta Słomka, David J Paterson, Dennis Brueckner, Wojciech J Przybyłowicz, Jolanta Mesjasz-Przybyłowicz, Chris C Ryan, Raina M Maier, Alicja Babst-Kostecka, Habitat-specific allocations of elements in Atriplex lentiformis seeds indicate adaptation to metal toxicity, Journal of Experimental Botany, Volume 75, Issue 16, 28 August 2024, Pages 5076–5090, https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erae229