Regulation of gemma formation in the copper moss Scopelophila cataractae by environmental copper concentrations

Considerable attention has recently been focused on the use of hyperaccumulator plants for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals. The moss, Scopelophila cataractae (Mitt.) Broth., is a typical hyperaccumulator that is usually observed only in copper-rich environments and which accumulates high concentrations of copper in its tissues. However, many of the physiological processes and mechanisms for metal hyperaccumulation in S. cataractae remain unknown. To address this issue, we examined the mechanisms regulating gemma formation, which is considered the main strategy by which S. cataractae relocates to new copper-rich areas. From this study we found that treatment of S. cataractae with high concentrations of copper suppressed gemma formation but promoted protonemal growth. The suppressive effect was not observed by treatment with heavy metals other than copper. These results suggest the importance of copper-sensitive asexual reproduction in the unique life strategy of the copper moss, S. cataractae.