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Published on: August 22, 2014
Sodium hyperaccumulators in the Caryophyllales are characterized by both abnormally large shoot sodium concentrations
Konrad Neugebauer1,2, Martin R Broadley2, Hamed A El-Serehy3
1Ecological Sciences Department, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, UK.
Background And Aims:
Some Caryophyllales species accumulate abnormally large shoot sodium (Na) concentrations in non-saline environments. It is not known whether this is a consequence of altered Na partitioning between roots and shoots. This paper tests the hypotheses (1) that Na concentrations in shoots ([Na]shoot) and in roots ([Na]root) are positively correlated among Caryophyllales, and (2) that shoot Na hyperaccumulation is correlated with [Na]shoot/[Na]root quotients.
Methods:
Fifty two genotypes, representing 45 Caryophyllales species and 4 species from other angiosperm orders, were grown hydroponically in a non-saline, complete nutrient solution. Concentrations of Na in shoots and in roots were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Key Results:
Sodium concentrations in shoots and roots were not correlated among Caryophyllales species with normal [Na]shoot, but were positively correlated among Caryophyllales species with abnormally large [Na]shoot. In addition, Caryophyllales species with abnormally large [Na]shoot had greater [Na]shoot/[Na]root than Caryophyllales species with normal [Na]shoot.
Conclusions:
Sodium hyperaccumulators in the Caryophyllales are characterized by abnormally large [Na]shoot, a positive correlation between [Na]shoot and [Na]root, and [Na]shoot/[Na]root quotients greater than unity.
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