Abstract
Phytotoxicity of nickel (Ni) varies within plant species and cultivars as well as with the concentration of Ni in the rooting medium. Moreover, it is known that several nutrients can modify the plant response to excess Ni. Nitrogen can be absorbed by plants as different N forms and because N metabolism and Ni are closely related, a hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the effect of Ni toxicity on the growth, nutrient status of the different plant parts and leaf chlorophyll concentrations in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.) cv Quipu grown with different forms of N supply. The plants were grown under controlled conditions for 35 days. Depending on the N source supplied, there were significant differences in the sensitivity of sunflower plants to excess Ni. Tolerance was lowest when grown with NO3 − alone. A high Ni and NO3 − as the only N source resulted in reduced dry weight and significant decreases in nutrient concentration. Plants supplied with a mixture of NO3 − and NH4 + absorbed in the presence of Ni in solution about three times less Ni than those supplied with NO3 − alone. Consequently, there were great differences in Ni concentrations between treatments. With a N nutrition of 100% NO3 −-N, Ni supply led to severe growth inhibition. Just contrary, simultaneous supply of NO3 − and NH4 + not only reduced Ni toxicity, but growth was even stimulated by Ni if supplied to plants fed with NO3 − and NH4 +. This indicates the significant role of the N form supplied in the behaviour of Ni toxicity in sunflower plants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aller A J, Bernd J L, Nozal M J and Deban C 1990 Effects of selected trace elements on plant growth. J. Sci. Food Agric. 51, 447-479.
Alloway B 1990 The origins of heavy metals in soils. In Heavy Metals in Soils. Ed. B J Alloway. pp 29-39. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.
Barcelo J and Poschenrieder Ch 1990 Plant water relations as affected by heavy metal stress: A review. J. Plant Nutr. 13, 1–37.
Bender F E, Douglass L W and Kramer A 1989 Statistical Methods for Food and Agriculture. Food Products Press, New York. 91 p.
Brown P H, Welch R D and Cary G E 1987 Nickel: A micronutrient essential for higher plants. Plant Physiol. 85, 801–830.
Clarkson D T and Lüttge U 1989 Divalent cations, transport and compartmention. Prog. Bot. 51, 93–112.
Eskew D L, Welch R M and Noorvell W A 1984 Nickel in higher plants, further evidence for an essential role. Plant Physiol. 76, 691–694.
Foy C D, Chaney R L and White MC 1978 The physiology of metal toxicity in plants. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 29, 511–566.
Gordon W R, Schewmmer S S and Hilman W S 1978 Nickel and the metabolism of urea by Lemna paucicostata. Planta 140, 265–268.
Heale E L and Ormrod D P 1982 Effects of nickel and copper on Acer rubrum, Cornus stolonifera, Lonicera tatarica, and Pinus resinosa. Can. J. Bot. 60, 2674–2681.
Heikal M M D, Berry W L, Wallace A and Herman D 1989 Alleviation of nickel toxicity by calcium salinity. Soil Sci. 147, 413–415.
Iizukka T 1975 Interaction among nickel, iron, and zinc in mulberry tree grown on serpentine soil. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 21, 47–55.
Johnston W R and Proctor J 1981 Growth of serpentine and non-serpentine races of Festuca rubra in solutions simulating the chemical conditions in a toxic serpentine soil. J. Ecol. 69, 855–869.
Jones M D and Hutchinson T C 1988 Nickel toxicity in mycorrhizal bich seedlings infected with Lactarius rufus and Scleroderma flavidum. I. Effects on growth, photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration. New Phytol. 108, 451–459.
Khalid B and Tinsley J 1980 Some effects of nickel toxicity on ryegrass. Plant Soil 55, 139–145.
Maclachlan S and Zalik S 1963 Plastid structure, chlorophyll concentration, and free amino acid composition of a chlorophyll mutant in barley. Can J. Bot. 41, 1053–1062.
Marschner H 1995 Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. Academic Press, London. 889 p.
Mishra D and Kar M 1974 Nickel in plant growth and metabolism. Bot. Rev. 40, 395–452.
Morgutti S, Sacchi G A and Cocucci S M 1984 Effects of Ni2C on proton extrusion, dark CO2 fixation and malate synthesis in maize roots. Physiol. Plant. 60, 70–74.
Pandolfini T, Gabbrielli R and Comparini C 1992 Nickel toxicity and peroxidase activity in seedlings of Triticum aestivum L. Plant Cell. Environ. 15, 719–725.
Piccini D F and Malavolta E 1992 Effect of nickel on two common bean cultivars. J. Plant Nutr. 15, 2343–2356.
Polacco J C 1977 Nitrogen metabolism in soybean tissue culture. II. Urea utilization and urease synthesis require Ni2C. Plant Physiol. 59, 827–830.
Proctor J and Baker A J M 1994 The importance of nickel for plant growth in ultramafic (serpentine) soils. InToxic Metals in Soil-Plant Systems, Ed. S M Ross. pp 417–432. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.
Rauser W E 1978 Early effects of phytotoxic burdens of cadmium, cobalt, nickel and zinc in white beans. Can. J. Bot. 56, 1744–1749.
Reuter D J and Robinson J B 1986 Plant Analysis: An Interpretation Manual. Inkata Press, Melbourne. 79 p.
Robertson A I 1985 The poisoning of roots of Zea mays by nickel ions, and the protection afforded by magnesium and calcium. New Phytol. 100, 173–189.
Welch R 1981 The biological significance of nickel. J. Plant Nutr. 3, 345–356.
Yang X, Baligar V C, Martens D C and Clark R B 1996 Plant tolerance to nickel toxicity. I. Influx, transport, and accumulation of nickel in four species. J. Plant Nutr. 19, 73–85.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zornoza, P., Robles, S. & Martin, N. Alleviation of nickel toxicity by ammonium supply to sunflower plants. Plant and Soil 208, 221–226 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004517414730
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004517414730