Abstract
The mechanism of Al uptake in melastoma (Melastoma malabathricum L.), which accumulates Al in excess of 10 000 mg kg−1 in its leaves and roots, was investigated. Al uptake kinetics in excised melastoma roots showed a biphasic pattern, with an initial rapid phase followed by a slow phase. It was indicated that Al uptake in the excised roots occurs mostly through passive accumulation in the apoplast. On the other hand, Al uptake rate in roots of whole melastoma plant was almost double that in excised roots. The difference of Al uptake rate between excised roots and whole plant seems to be due to transpiration-depended Al uptake. Results from a long-term experiment showed that different characteristics of Al accumulation between melastoma and barley was caused by the difference in capacity to retain Al in root symplast, rather than by the difference in uptake rate into symplast. Concentrations of oxalate in root symplastic and apoplastic fractions, and total oxalate in shoots and roots, did not change greatly with time of Al exposure compared to Al concentration, although oxalate is considered as a main Al ligand in tissue of melastoma. On the other hand, oxalate exudation to root apoplast was induced within 24 h of Al exposure; the role of such exudation was discussed.
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Watanabe, T., Osaki, M. & Tadano, T. Al uptake kinetics in roots of Melastoma malabathricum L. – an Al accumulator plant. Plant and Soil 231, 283–291 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010365607325
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010365607325