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Laser ablation ICP-MS reveals patterns of copper differing from zinc in growth zones of cucumber roots

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Abstract

Laser ablation coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to find Cu and Zn concentration in surface tissue along a longitudinal developmental gradient with meristem, rapidly elongating tissue, and nongrowing tissue in a model system of seedling roots of Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber). Tissue metal accumulation was determined for roots of seedlings growing on cellulosic germination paper treated with nutrient solution (controls), and also treated with concentrations of Zn (40 ppm) and Cu (10 ppm) that reduced growth. Cu content of all roots is highest at the apex and falls sharply to lower values by 2 mm from the root tip. In contrast, at moderate Zn availability (0.07 ppm), Zn content rises from the apex to 2 mm then falls throughout the remainder of the growth zone. At high external Zn the spatial pattern resembles that of Cu. Cucumber root growth zones accumulate more of each metal with higher external availability. Metal deposition rates were calculated using a continuity equation with data on local metal content and growth velocity. Deposition rates of both metals are generally highest in the rapidly elongating region, 1.5–3.5 mm, even where metal concentration is decreasing with position and root age and even when the accumulation is inhibitory to growth.

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Abbreviations

D :

Deposition rate (μg g−1 h−1)

DW:

Dry weight

FW:

Fresh weight

ICP:

Inductively coupled plasma

LA:

Laser ablation

MS:

Mass spectrometry

NIST:

National Institute of Standards and Technology

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

r :

Root radius (mm)

REGR:

Relative elemental growth rate (h−1)

t :

Time (h)

v :

Growth displacement velocity (mm h−1)

z :

Distance from root tip (mm)

ρ :

Metal concentration (μg g−1)

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Peter G. Green for valuable consultation on metal chemistry and analytic methods. We thank Jiaxi Fang, Royah Khorsandi, and Vinh Tran for technical assistance. The fellowship of Jiyan Shi was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20777066 to Jiyan Shi and 40432004 to Prof. Yingxu Chen), and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT0536). Research support was also provided by the Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, and the U.C. Davis Interdisciplinary Center for Plasma Mass Spectrometry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, People’s Republic of China

    Jiyan Shi

  2. Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Jiyan Shi & Wendy K. Silk

  3. Interdisciplinary Center for Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Michelle A. Gras

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  1. Jiyan Shi
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  2. Michelle A. Gras
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  3. Wendy K. Silk
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Correspondence to Wendy K. Silk.

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Shi, J., Gras, M.A. & Silk, W.K. Laser ablation ICP-MS reveals patterns of copper differing from zinc in growth zones of cucumber roots. Planta 229, 945–954 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0861-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0861-7

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