Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Congeneric Serpentine and Nonserpentine Shrubs Differ More in Leaf Ca:Mg than in Tolerance of Low N, Low P, or Heavy Metals

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Serpentine soils limit plant growth by NPK deficiencies, low Ca availability, excess Mg, and high heavy metal levels. In this study, three congeneric serpentine and nonserpentine evergreen shrub species pairs were grown in metalliferous serpentine soil with or without NPKCa fertilizer to test which soil factors most limit biomass production and mineral nutrition responses. Fertilization increased biomass production and allocation to leaves while decreasing allocation to roots in both serpentine and nonserpentine species. Simultaneous increases in biomass and leaf N:P ratios in fertilized plants of all six species suggest that N is more limiting than P in this serpentine soil. Neither N nor P concentrations, however, nor root to shoot translocation of these nutrients, differed significantly between serpentine and nonserpentine congeners. All six species growing in unfertilized serpentine soil translocated proportionately more P to leaves compared to fertilized plants, thus maintaining foliar P. Leaf Ca:Mg molar ratios of the nonserpentine species were generally equal to that of the soil. The serpentine species, however, maintained significantly higher leaf Ca:Mg than both their nonserpentine counterparts and the soil. Elevated leaf Ca:Mg in the serpentine species was achieved by selective Ca transport and/or Mg exclusion operating at the root-to-shoot translocation level, as root Ca and Mg concentrations did not differ between serpentine and nonserpentine congeners. All six species avoided shoot toxicity of heavy metals by root sequestration. The comparative data on nutrient deficiencies, leaf Ca:Mg, and heavy metal sequestration suggest that the ability to maintain high leaf Ca:Mg is a key evolutionary change needed for survival on serpentine soil and represents the physiological feature distinguishing the serpentine shrub species from their nonserpentine congeners. The results also suggest that high leaf Ca:Mg is achieved in these serpentine species by selective translocation of Ca and/or inhibited transport of Mg from roots, rather than by uptake/exclusion at root surfaces.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • R Aerts F S Chapin SuffixIII (2000) ArticleTitleThe mineral nutrition of wild plants revisited: A re-evaluation of processes and patterns Adv. Ecol. Res. 30 1–67 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXivVejurw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Angelone O Vaselli C Bini N Coradossi (1993) ArticleTitlePedogeochemical evolution and trace elements availability to plants in ophiolitic soils Sci. Total. Environ. 129 291–309 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0048-9697(93)90324-Y Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXht1els7s%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A J M Baker (1987) ArticleTitleMetal tolerance New Phytol. 106 IssueIDSuppl. 93–111 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2sXktlCgurw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M R Broadley N J Willey J C Wilkins A J M Baker A Mead P J White (2001) ArticleTitlePhylogenetic variation in heavy metal accumulation in angiosperms New Phytol. 152 9–27 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnvVylsro%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M R Broadley H C Bowen H L Cotterill J P Hammond M C Meacham A Mead P J White (2003) ArticleTitleVariation in the shoot calcium content of angiosperms J. Exp. Bot. 54 1431–1446 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXjt1Ogs7k%3D Occurrence Handle12709490

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R R Brooks (1987) Serpentine and its Vegetation: A Multidisciplinary Approach Dioscorides Press Portland, OR, USA 454

    Google Scholar 

  • R Burt M Fillmore M A Wilson E R Gross R W Langridge D A Lammers (2001) ArticleTitleSoil properties of selected pedons on ultramafic rocks in Klamath Mountains, Oregon Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 32 2145–2175 Occurrence Handle10.1081/CSS-120000275 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXns1Wltr4%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S P Carter J Proctor D R Slingsby (1988) ArticleTitleThe effects of fertilization on part of the Keen of Hamar serpentine, Shetland Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 45 97–105

    Google Scholar 

  • A Chiarucci S Maccherini I Bonini V Dominicis ParticleDe (1999) ArticleTitleEffects of nutrient addition on community productivity and structure of serpentine vegetation Plant Biol. 1 121–126 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXht1Sjsrk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T El-Jaoual D A Cox (1998) ArticleTitleManganese toxicity in plants J. Plant Nutr. 21 353–386 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhtlWltrg%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Freitas H Mooney (1996) ArticleTitleEffects of water stress and soil texture on the performance of two Bromus hordeaceus ecotypes from sandstone and serpentine soils Acta Oecol. 17 307–317

    Google Scholar 

  • R Gabbrielli T Pandolfini (1984) ArticleTitleEffect of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on the response to nickel toxicity in a serpentine endemic and nickel-accumulating species Physiol. Plant 62 540–544 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXntlOhtQ%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Gabbrielli T Pandolfini O Vergnano M R Palandri (1990) ArticleTitleComparison of two serpentine species with different nickel tolerance strategies Plant and Soil 122 271–277 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXktVGit7Y%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U G Gasser R A Dahlgren C Ludwig A E Läuchli (1995) ArticleTitleRelease kinetics of surface-associated Mn and Ni in serpentinitic soils: pH effects Soil Sci. 160 273–280 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXovVGhurc%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L R Huenneke S P Hamburg R Koide H A Mooney P M Vitousek (1990) ArticleTitleEffects of soil resources on plant invasion and community structure in Californian serpentine grassland Ecology 71 478–491

    Google Scholar 

  • W Jeschke E Kirkby A Peuke J Pate W Hartung (1997) ArticleTitleEffects of P deficiency on assimilation and transport of nitrate and phosphate in intact plants of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) J. Exp. Bot. 48 75–91 Occurrence Handle10.1093/jexbot/48.314.1737 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXhtlegtbY%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R L Koenigs W A Williams M B Jones A Wallace (1982) ArticleTitleFactors affecting vegetation on a serpentine soil. II. Chemi- cal composition of foliage and soil Hilgardia 50 15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • A R Kruckeberg (1950) An experimental inquiry into the nature of endemism on serpentine soils University of California Berkeley, California, USA 154

    Google Scholar 

  • A R Kruckeberg (1984) California Serpentines: Flora, Vegetation, Geology, Soils and Management Problems University of California Press Berkeley, California, USA 180

    Google Scholar 

  • A R Kruckeberg (2002) Geology and Plant Life University of Washington Press Seattle, Washington, USA 362

    Google Scholar 

  • A Lombini E Dinelli C Ferrari A Simoni (1998) ArticleTitlePlant–soil relationships in the serpentinite screes of Mt. Prinzera (Northern Apennines, Italy) J. Geo. Expl. 64 19–33 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXis1yntA%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Lombini M Llugany C Poschenrieder E Dinelli J Barceló (2003) ArticleTitleInfluence of the Ca/Mg ratio on Cu resistance in three Silene armeria ecotypes adapted to calcareous soil or to different, Ni- or Cu-enriched serpentine sites J. Plant Physiol. 160 1451–1456 Occurrence Handle10.1078/0176-1617-01002 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXhtFKlurg%3D Occurrence Handle14717437

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S E Lorenz R E Hamon S P McGrath P E Holm T H Christensen (1994) ArticleTitleApplications of fertilizer affect cadmium and zinc concentrations in soil solutions and uptake by plants Eur. J. Soil. Sci. 45 159–165 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXmt12rsb8%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G L Lyon P J Peterson R R Brooks G W Butler (1971) ArticleTitleCalcium, magnesium, and trace elements in a New Zealand serpentine flora J. Ecol. 59 421–429

    Google Scholar 

  • O P Madhok R B Walker (1969) ArticleTitleMagnesium nutrition of two species of sunflower Plant Physiol. 44 1016–1022 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaF1MXltVSqsro%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Marschner (2002) Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants Academic Press San Diego, California, USA 889

    Google Scholar 

  • G A Meyer P N Keliher (1992) An overview of analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry A Montaser D W Golightly (Eds) Inductively Coupled Plasmas in Analytical Atomic Spectrometry VCH Publishers Inc New York, New York, USA 473–505

    Google Scholar 

  • L Nagy J Proctor (1997) ArticleTitlePlant growth and reproduction on a toxic alpine ultramafic soil: Adaptation to nutrient limitation New Phytol. 137 267–274 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.1997.00799.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXnvFagsLo%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Neter W Wasserman M H Kutner (1990) Applied Linear Statistical Models: Regression, Analysis of Variance, and Experimental Design EditionNumber3 Irwin Homewood, Illinois, USA 842

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Dell R E and Claassen V P 2005 Serpentine and nonserpentine Achillea millefolium accessions differ in serp entine substrate tolerance and response to organic and inorganic amendments. Plant Soil, DOI 10.1007/s11104-005-1360-2 (in press)

  • J Proctor S R J Woodell (1975) ArticleTitleThe ecology of serpentine soils Adv. Ecol. Res. 9 256–365

    Google Scholar 

  • J Proctor (1999) ArticleTitleToxins, nutrient shortages and droughts: The serpentine challenge TREE 14 334–335

    Google Scholar 

  • R D Reeves R M MacFarlane R R Brooks (1983) ArticleTitleAccumulation of nickel and zinc by western North American genera containing serpentine-tolerant species Am. J. Bot. 70 1297–1303 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXitVKltA%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W R Rice (1989) ArticleTitleAnalyzing tables of statistical tests Evolution 43 223–225

    Google Scholar 

  • B A Roberts J Proctor (1992) The Ecology of Areas with Serpentinized Rocks. A World View Kluwer Academic Publishers Boston, Massachusetts, USA 472

    Google Scholar 

  • R N Sah R O Miller (1992) ArticleTitleSpontaneous reaction for acid dissolution of biological tissues in closed vessels Anal. Chem. 64 230–233 Occurrence Handle10.1021/ac00026a026 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38XjslCitQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle1319690

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameSAS Institute (2001) SAS/STAT User’s Guide Version 8 SAS Institute Cary, North Carolina, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • J O Sawyer T Keeler-Wolf (1995) A Manual of California Vegetation California Native Plant Society Sacramento, California, USA 471

    Google Scholar 

  • S M Scheiner (1993) MANOVA: Multiple response variables and multispecies interactions S M Scheiner J Gurevitch (Eds) Design and Analysis of Ecological Experiments Chapman and Hall New York, New York, USA 94–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw A J 1990. Heavy Metal Tolerance in Plants: Evolutionary Aspects. Ed. A J Shaw. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA. 355 p

  • P R Shewry P J Peterson (1975) ArticleTitleCalcium and magnesium in␣plants and soil from a Shetland area on Unst, Shetland J. Appl. Ecol. 12 381–391 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE2sXhs12qsrs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A J M Smucker S L McBurney A K Srivastava (1982) ArticleTitleQuantitative separation of roots from compacted soil profiles by the hydropneumatic elutriation system Agron. J. 74 500–503

    Google Scholar 

  • B G Tabachnich L S Fidell (1996) Using Multivariate Statistics Harper Collins College Publishers New York, New York, USA 880

    Google Scholar 

  • S L Tisdale W L Nelson J D Beaton J L Havlin (1993) Soil Fertility and Fertilizers Macmillan Publishing Company New York, New York, USA 634

    Google Scholar 

  • S N Turitzin (1982) ArticleTitleNutrient limitations to plant growth in a California serpentine grassland Am. Midl. Nat. 107 95–99

    Google Scholar 

  • C P Vance C Uhde-Stone D L Allan (2003) ArticleTitlePhosphorus acquistion and use: critical adaptations by plants for securing a nonrenewable resource New Phytol 157 423–447 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00695.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXisF2gu70%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R B Walker H M Walker P R Ashworth (1955) ArticleTitleCalcium–magnesium nutrition with special reference to serpentine soils Plant Phys. 30 214–221 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaG2MXos1eqtg%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R B Walker (2001) ArticleTitleLow molybdenum status of serpentine soils of western North America S. Afr. J. Sci. 97 565–568 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XhvF2ku78%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Wallace M B Jones G V Alexander (1982) ArticleTitleMineral composition of native woody plants growing on a serpentine soil in California Soil Sci. 134 42–44 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL38XlsVeks7c%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A Westerbergh (1994) ArticleTitleSerpentine and non-serpentine Silene dioica plants do not differ in nickel tolerance Plant Soil 167 297–303 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00007956 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXks1Chs7s%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C D White (1967) ArticleTitleAbsence of nodule formation on Ceanothus cuneatus in serpentine soils Nature 215 875

    Google Scholar 

  • G H Wiltshire (1972) ArticleTitleEffect of nitrogen source on translocation of nickel in some crop plants and weeds Kirkia 8 103–123

    Google Scholar 

  • G H Wiltshire (1974) ArticleTitleGrowth of plants on soils from two metalliferous sites in Rhodesia J. Ecol. 62 501–525 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE2MXjvFajsw%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jeremy J. James

    Present address: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, 67826-A Hwy 205, 97720-9394, Burns, OR, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616-8627, USA

    Ryan E. O’Dell & James H. Richards

Authors
  1. Ryan E. O’Dell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeremy J. James
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James H. Richards
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ryan E. O’Dell.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

O’Dell, R.E., James, J.J. & Richards, J.H. Congeneric Serpentine and Nonserpentine Shrubs Differ More in Leaf Ca:Mg than in Tolerance of Low N, Low P, or Heavy Metals. Plant Soil 280, 49–64 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-3502-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-3502-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation