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Changes in mesophyll element distribution and phytometabolite contents involved in fluoride tolerance of the arid gypsum-tolerant plant species Atractylis serratuloides Sieber ex Cass. (Asteraceae)

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Abstract

Atractylis serratuloides is an abundant native spiny species that grows in the surroundings of superphosphate factories in Tunisia. This plant species is adapted to arid environments and tolerates a high level of fluoride pollution in soils. The aim of this study was to better understand the physiological mechanisms of fluoride tolerance of this species, comparing the fluoride-contaminated sites of Gabes and Skhira with the reference site of Smara. Results demonstrated the involvement of leaf element and phytometabolite balances in the in situ response of A. serrulatoides to fluoride. Calcium, sulphur and magnesium were differently distributed between the sites of Gabes and Smara in all plant organs. No specific tissue fluorine accumulation in root, stem and leaf, even in the most contaminated site at Gabes, was detected by EDAX mapping. Lower anthocyan and flavonol levels but enhanced nitrogen balance index were found in A. serrulatoides leaves from Gabes compared to the two other sites. A. serratuloides appeared as a fluoride excluder and its tolerance involved calcium interactions with fluoride. Moreover, an occurrence of dark septate endophytes and arbuscular mycorhizal fungi in root systems of A. serratuloides was reported for the first time, and these symbioses were present but low at all sites. We suggest the use of this plant species for fluoride-polluted soil stabilization.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partly funded by the Action Intégrée Franco-Tunisienne of the French Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et Européennes and the Tunisian Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche Scientifique. The authors thank Imed Mezghani for his help in harvesting and sampling in the field, and thanks are also due to Oceane Beaufort for helping with root staining in the laboratory. The authors are grateful to Laurent Vassalo for his efficient help in TOC and TKN analyses in a high-performance time. Also, the authors thank the Groupe Chimique Tunisien, in particular the Direction Centrale de la Recherche, for its assistance and logistical support in carrying out this study. Lastly, the authors would like to thank Michael Paul for revising the English of this text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, 52 Avenue Normandie-Niemen, 13397, Marseille CEDEX 20, France

    Asma Boukhris, Isabelle Laffont-Schwob, Jacques Rabier, Marie-Dominique Salducci & Thierry Tatoni

  2. Plant Diversity and Ecosystems in Dry Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Sfax, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia

    Asma Boukhris, Lefi El Kadri & Mohamed Chaieb

  3. Fédération de Chimie de Marseille FR 1739 Service PRATIM, Aix Marseille Université, 3 Place Victor Hugo, 13331, Marseille CEDEX 3, France

    Alain Tonetto

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  1. Asma Boukhris
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Correspondence to Isabelle Laffont-Schwob.

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Boukhris, A., Laffont-Schwob, I., Rabier, J. et al. Changes in mesophyll element distribution and phytometabolite contents involved in fluoride tolerance of the arid gypsum-tolerant plant species Atractylis serratuloides Sieber ex Cass. (Asteraceae). Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 7918–7929 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3957-6

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