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Phylogenetic variation in heavy metal accumulation in angiosperms
Martin R Broadley1, Neil J Willey2, Janine C Wilkins2
1Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, UK.
The New Phytologist
|August 17, 2022
Summary
Plant phylogeny influences shoot heavy metal accumulation, with traits linked to cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc content evolving early. This aids in predicting soil-to-plant metal transfer and phytoremediation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Ecology
- Genetics
Background:
- Heavy metal accumulation in plants is influenced by various factors.
- Understanding the evolutionary basis of these traits is crucial for ecological and agricultural applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of plant phylogeny on shoot heavy metal content.
- To test the hypothesis that traits affecting the accumulation of specific metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc) are associated.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of literature data using a residual maximum likelihood (REML) procedure.
- Pair-wise regressions and principal components analyses (PCA) on independent contrasts of shoot metal content.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in shoot metal content was observed at the order level and above, indicating ancient trait evolution.
- Traits influencing the accumulation of metals in plant shoots were found to be associated.
Conclusions:
- Phylogenetic history plays a significant role in plant heavy metal accumulation.
- Findings can improve soil-to-plant metal transfer predictions, inform hypotheses on metal-accumulating phenotypes, and guide the use of plant genetic resources for nutrition and phytoremediation.
