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Distinguishable root plaque on root surface of Potamogeton crispus grown in two sediments with different nutrient status

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Abstract

The properties of plaques were different on the root surface of Potamogeton crispus planted in sediments from two different shallow lakes. Lake Tangxunhu sediment, with low pH, contained low organic matter, whereas Lake Yuehu sediment, with high pH, had high calcium deposits mixed with high organic matter. The contents of mineral elements in sediment of Lake Tangxunhu was lower than that of Lake Yuehu, except for iron (Fe) content, but the contents of mineral elements extracted by sodium dithionite–sodium citrate–sodium bicarbonate (DCB) from root plaques were higher in Lake Tangxunhu than those in Lake Yuehu, except for Fe. These element distributions on P. crispus root plaques were characterized by scanning electron microscope combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer and were consistent with the contents of mineral elements in sediment. The root plaque of P. crispus planted in Lake Tangxunhu sediment mainly contained silicon (Si) and Fe, and the content of Si was greater than Fe, which may be contributed to the formation of poly-silicic-ferric in the natural conditions. However, the root plaque of P. crispus planted in the sediment with higher calcium content of Lake Yuehu was rich in Fe, Si, phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca). Due to oxygen secretion by plant roots, the root plaque has more Fe3(PO4)2 and a certain amount of Ca3(PO4)2. The ratio of magnesium (Mn) to Fe extracted by DCB from root plaque in Lake Tangxunhu sediment was 0.031 and 0.010 in Lake Yuehu sediment. In Lake Tangxunhu sediment, lower content of organic matter results in weak reducibility. Enhanced oxidation ability by oxygen secretion of P. crispus root could oxidize low-valent Fe and Mn into iron–manganese oxide, which leads to formation of iron–manganese plaque on the root surface. However, this case is different in Lake Yuehu sediment, where Fe and Mn can be reduced in high organic sediment and low-valent Mn can precipitate in the sediment in which pH is >8. Thus, low-valent Fe in Lake Yuehu sediment moves to the root surface of P. crispus, where it oxidizes into Fe oxide, i.e., Fe plaque.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40973056) and the Ministry of Education Doctoral Program Foundation of China (20100146110020). We thank Ms. Lihong Qin from Laboratory of Electron Microscope, Huazhong Agricultural University, for her helping unscramble SEM image and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometery. Professor Yiyong Zhou from the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Science, and Professor Huaidong Zhou from the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research are acknowledged for their kind instruction and suggestion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Ecological Environment Research of Huazhong Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Subtropical Agriculture and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture of PRC, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Weijie Mi, Jianbo Cai, Ye Tuo, Hong Zhu, Yumei Hua, Jianwei Zhao, Wenbing Zhou & Duanwei Zhu

  2. Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources of PRC and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430079, China

    Weijie Mi

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  1. Weijie Mi
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  2. Jianbo Cai
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  3. Ye Tuo
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  4. Hong Zhu
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  5. Yumei Hua
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  6. Jianwei Zhao
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  7. Wenbing Zhou
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Correspondence to Duanwei Zhu.

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Handling Editor: Hiroshi Hasegawa.

W. Mi and J. Cai contributed equally to this work.

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Mi, W., Cai, J., Tuo, Y. et al. Distinguishable root plaque on root surface of Potamogeton crispus grown in two sediments with different nutrient status. Limnology 14, 1–11 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-012-0374-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-012-0374-8

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