Skip to main content
Log in

Heavy-metal (Zn, Cd) tolerance in selected clones of duck weed (Lemna minor)

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cryo-microprobe analysis of quench-frozen fronds of a Zn-tolerant clone of Lemna minor exposed to a high level of Zn (300 μM) showed the presence of cellular deposits consisting of Zn, Mg, K and P or Zn, K and P (Zn phytate). The same Zn-tolerant clone of Lemna minor, when exposed to a high level of Cd (30 μM), showed the presence of globular deposits consisting of Cd, K and P in mature fronds, but the immature cells of the enclosed daughter fronds contained relatively large deposits with Cd and S as the main components (Cd-phytochelatin?). Selection for Zn tolerance in a population of Lemna minor was easily achieved but selection for Cd tolerance has so far not been successful. The Zn-tolerant clone also tolerates high levels of phosphate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander T G and Robertson J A 1970 Ascorbic acid as a reductant for inorganic phosphorus determination in Chang and Jackson fractionation procedure. Soil Science 110, 361–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casterline J L and Yip G 1975 The distribution and binding of cadmium in oyster, soybean and rat liver and kidney. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 3, 319–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cosgrove D J 1980 Inositol Phosphates: Their Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physiology. Elsevier Scientific Publishing, Amsterdam, Oxford, New York. 191 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVos C H R, Schat H, Vooijs R and Ernst W H O 1977 Copper-induced damage to the permeability barrier in roots of Silene cucubalis. J. Plant Physiol. 135, 164–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon K W, Kuo J and Pate J S 1983 Storage reservoir of the seed-like aestivating organs of geophytes inhabiting granite outcrops in Southwestern Australia. Aust. J. Bot. 31, 85–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enrst W H O 1975 Physiology of heavy metal resistance in plants. In Proc. Int. Conf. on Heavy Metals in the Environment. Eds. T C Huchinson, S Epstein, A L Page, J Van Loon and T Davey. pp 121–136. CEP Consultants, Toronto, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi V R and Schueren A M 1989 Incorporation of strontium into plant calcium oxalate crystals. Protoplasma 130, 199–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi V R 1989 Calcium oxalate formation is a rapid and reversible process in Lemna minor L. Protoplasma 148, 130–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godbold D L, Horst W J, Collins J C, Thurman D A and Marschner H 1984 Accumulation of zinc and organic acids in roots of zinc tolerant and nontolerant ecotypes of Deschampsia caespitosa. J. Plant Physiol. 116, 59–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grill E, Winnacker E-L and Zenk M H 1985 Phytochelatins: The principal heavy-metal complexing peptides of higher plants. Science 230, 674–676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grill E, Winnacker E-L and Zenk M H 1987 Phytochelatins, a class of heavy-metal binding peptides from plants, are functionally analogous to metallothioneins. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 84, 439–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirt H, Sommergruber K and Barta A 1990 Effects of cadmium on tobacco: Synthesis and regulation of cadmium-binding peptides. Biochem. Physiol. Pflanzen 186, 153–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Hatch E and Goldbrough P B 1987 Selection and characterization of cadmium tolerant cells in tomato. Plant Science 52, 211–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson P J, Unkefer C J, Doolen J A, Watt K and Robinson N J 1987 Poly (γ-glutamyl cysteinyl) glycine: Its role in cadmium resistance in plant cells. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 84, 6619–6623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krotz R M, Evangelou B P and Wagner G J 1989 Relation-ships between cadmium, zinc, Cd-peptide and organic acid in tobacco suspension cells. Plant Physiol. 91, 780–787.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H 1986 Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. Academic Press, London. 674 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthys W 1977 The role of malate, oxalate and mustard oil glycosides in the evolution of zinc-resistance in herbage plants. Physiol. Plant. 33, 161–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michael G 1939 Phosphate fractions in oat grains and spinach related to a varied application of phosphorus. Bodenkd. Pflanzenernaehr. 14, 148–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organ M G, Greenwood J S and Bewley J D 1988 Phytin is synthesized in the cotyledons of germinated castor-bean seeds in response to exogenously supplied phosphate. Planta 174, 513–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rauser W E 1984 Isolation and partial purification of cadmium-binding protein from roots of the grass Agrostis gigantea. Plant Physiol. 74, 1025–1029.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy G N and Prasad M N V 1990 Heavy metal-binding-proteins/peptides: Occurrence, structure, synthesis and functions — A review. Environ. Expt. Bot. 30, 251–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reese R N and Wagner G J 1987 Effects of buthionine sulfoximine on Cd-binding peptide levels in suspension-cultured tobacco cells treated with Cd, Zn or Cu. Plant Physiol. 84, 574–577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuter D R and Robinson 1986 Plant Analysis: An Interpretation Manual. Inkata Press, Melbourne, Sydney. 218 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts R M and Loewus F 1968 Inositol metabolism in plants. VI. Conversion of myo-inositol to phytic acid in Wolffiella floridana. Plant Physiol. 43, 1710–1716.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson N J and Jackson P J 1986 ‘Metallothionein-like’ metal complexes in angiosperms: Their structure and function. Physiol. Plant. 67, 499–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samotus B and Schwimmer S 1962 Phytic acid as a phosphorus reservoir in the developing potato tuber. Nature 194, 578–579.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz C L and Hutchinson T C 1988 Evidence against a key role for methallothionein-like protein in the copper tolerance mechanism of Deschampsia caespitosa (L.). Beauv. New Phytol. 110, 163–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanBalen E, Van deGeijn S C and Desomet G M 1980 Autoradiographic evidence for the incorporation of cadmium into calcium oxalate crystals. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 97, 123–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanSteveninck R F M, VanSteveninck M E, Fernando D R, Horst W J and Marschner H 1987 Deposition of zinc phytate in globular bodies in roots of Deschampsia caespitosa ecotypes: A detoxification mechanism? J. Plant Physiol. 131, 247–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanSteveninck R F M, VanSteveninck M E, Wells A J and Fernando D R 1990 Zinc tolerance and the binding of zinc as zinc phytate in Lemna minor. X-ray microanalytical evidence. J. Plant' Physiol. 137, 140–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanSteveninck R F M and VanSteveninck M E 1991 Microanalysis. In Electron Microscopy of Plant Cells. Eds. J L Hall and C Hawes. pp 415–455. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verkley J A C and Schat H 1990 Mechanisms of metal tolerance in higher plants. In Evolutionary Aspects of Heavy-Metal Tolerance in Plants. Ed. J Shaw. pp 179–193. CRC Press Boca Raton, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verkley J A C, Koevoets P, Van't Riet J, Bank R, Nydam Y and Ernst W H O 1990 Poly (g-glutamyl cysteinyl) glycines or phytochelatins and their role in cadmium tolerance of Silene vulgaris. Plant, Cell Environ. 13, 913–921.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verkley J A C, Lolkema P C, DeNeeling A L and Harmens H 1991 Heavy-metal resistance in higher plants: Biochemical and genetic aspects. In Ecological Responses to Environmental Stresses. Eds. J Rozema and J A C Verkley. pp 8–19. Kluwer Acadmeic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wainwright S J and Woolhouse H W 1977 Some physiological effects of copper and zinc tolerance in Agrostis tenuis Sibth.: Cell elongation and membrane damage. J. Exp. Bot. 28, 1029–1036.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner G J 1984 Characterization of cadmium binding complex of cabbage leaves. Plant Physiol. 76, 797–805.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner G J and Krotz R M 1989 Perspectives on Cd and Zn accumulations, accommodation and tolerance in plant cells: The role of Cd-binding peptides versus other mechanisms. UCLA Symp. Mol. Cell Biol. (New Series) 98, 325–336.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Van Steveninck, R.F.M., Van Steveninck, M.E. & Fernando, D.R. Heavy-metal (Zn, Cd) tolerance in selected clones of duck weed (Lemna minor). Plant Soil 146, 271–280 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012021

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012021

Key words

Navigation