Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Free metal activity and total metal concentrations as indices of micronutrient availability to barley [Hordeum vulgare (L.) ‘Klages’]

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The form in which a micronutrient is found in the rhizosphere affects its availability to plants. We compared the availability to barley of the free hydrated cation form of Fe3+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ versus their total metal concentrations (free ion plus complexes) in chelator-buffered solutions. Free metal ion activities were estimated using the chemical equilibrium program GEOCHEM-PC with the corrected database. In experiment 1, barley was grown in nutrient solutions with different Fe3+ activities using chelators to control Fe levels. Chlorosis occurred at Fe3+ activities of 10−18 and 10−19 M for barley grown in HEDTA and EDTA solutions, respectively. In experiment 2, barley was grown in nutrient solutions with the same calculated Fe3+ activity and the same chelator, but different total Fe concentrations. Leaf, root and shoot Fe concentrations were higher from CDTA buffered solutions which had the higher total Fe concentration indicating the importance of the total Fe concentration on Fe uptake. Results from treatments using EDTA or HEDTA, with one exception, were similar to the results from the CDTA treatment. This suggests differences in critical Fe3+ activities found in experiment 1 were due to differences in the total Fe concentration and not errors in chelate formation constants used to estimate the critical activities. Results for Cu, Zn, and Mn were similar to Fe; despite solutions with equal free Cu2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+ activities, plant concentrations of these metals were generally greater when grown in the solutions with the greater total amount of Cu, Zn, or Mn. When the free Zn2+ activity was kept constant while the total amount of Zn was increased from 4.4 to 49 μM, leaf Zn concentration increased from 77 to 146 μg g-1. In order to predict metal availability to barley and other species in chelator-buffered nutrient solutions, both free and total metal concentrations in solution must be considered. The critical Fe3+ activities required by barley in this study are much higher than those from tomato and soybean, 10-28 M, which strongly supports the Strategy 2 model of Fe uptake for Poaceae. This is related to the importance of the Fe3+ (barley) and the Fe2+ (tomato and soybean) ions in Fe uptake. Fe-stressed barley is known to release phytosiderophores which compete for Fe3+ in the nutrient solution, while tomato and soybean reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ at the epidermal cell membranes to allow uptake of Fe2+ from Fe3+ chelates in solution.

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

Abbreviations

CDTA:

trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-tetracetic acid

DTPA:

diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetracetic acid

EDDHA:

ethylenediamine-di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid)

HBED-N,N′:

di(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid

HEDTA-N:

hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetic acid

MES-2:

(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid

NTA:

nitrilotriacetic acid

References

  • Anderson D M and Morel F M M 1978 Copper sensitivity of Gonyaulax tamarensis. Limn. Ocean. 23, 282–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Awad F, Römheld V and Marschner H 1988 Mobilization of ferric iron from a calcareous soil by plant-borne chelators (phytosiderophores). J. Plant Nutr. 11, 701–713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradford G R, Bair F L and Hunsaker V 1971 Trace and major element contents of soil saturation extracts. Soil Sci. 112, 225–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown J C, Tiffin L O and Holmes R S 1960 Competition between chelating agents and roots as factor affecting absorption of iron and other ions by plant species. Plant Physiol. 35, 878–886.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugbee B G 1987 Maintenance of recirculating hydroponic systems. Hortscience 22, 1000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney R L 1988a Plants can utilize iron from Fe-N,N′-di-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-ethylenediamine-N-N′-diacetic acid, a ferric chelate with 106 greater formation constant than Fe-EDDHA. J. Plant Nutr. 11, 1033–1050.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney R L 1988b Metal speciation and interactions among elements affect trace element transfer in agricultural and environmental food-chains. In Metal Speciation: Theory, Analysis and Application. Eds. J RKramer and H E Allen. pp 219–260. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney R L, Brown J C and Tiffin L O 1971 Obligator reduction of ferric chelates in iron uptake by soybeans. Plant Physiol. 50, 208–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney R L, Bell P F and Melo I F S 1988 Activity of microelement cations required by plants in DTPA-buffered nutrient solutions. Agron. Abstr. 1988, 231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney R L, Bell P F and Coulombe B A 1989 Screening strategies for improved nutrient uptake and utilization by plants. HortScience 24, 565–572.

    Google Scholar 

  • Checkai R T, Corey R B and Helmke P A 1987 Effects of ionic and complexed metal concentrations on plant uptake of cadmium and micronutrient metals from solution. Plant and Soil 99, 335–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeKock P C and Mirchell R L 1957 Uptake of chelated metals. Soil Sci. 84, 55–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halvorson A D and Lindsay W L 1977 The critical Zn2+ concentration for corn and the nonabsorption of chelated zinc. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 41, 531–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Häussling M, Jorns C A, Lehmbecker G, Hecht-Buchholz Ch and Marschner H 1988 Ion and water uptake in relation to root development in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). J. Plant Physiol. 133, 486–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeffreys R A and Wallace A 1968 Detection of iron ethylenediamine di(o-hydroxyphenylacetate) in plant tissues. Agron. J. 60, 613–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer P J 1969 Plant and Soil Water Relationships. McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • L'Eplattenier, Murase F I and Martell A E 1967 New multidentate ligands. VI. Chelating tendencies of N,N′-di(2-hydroxybenzoyl)ethylene-diamine-N-N′-diacetic acid. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 89, 837–843.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margerum D W, Cayley G R, Weatherburn D C and Pagenkopf G K 1978 Kinetics and mechanisms of complex formation and ligand exchange. In Coordination Chemistry, Volume 2. Ed. A E Martell. pp 1–220. ACS monog. 174, Washington, DC.

  • Marschner H, Treeby M and Römheld V 1989 Role of root-induced changes in the rhizosphere for iron acquisition in higher plants. Z. Pflanzenernachr. Bodenkd. 152, 197–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath S P, Sanders J R, Laurie S H and Tancock N P 1986 Experimental determinations and computer predictions of trace metal ion concentrations in dilute complex solutions. Analyst 111, 459–465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker D R, Zelazny L W and Kinraide T B 1987 Improvements to the program GEOCHEM Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 51, 488–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson C A, Emanuel M E and Humphreys G B 1981 Pathway of movement of apoplastic fluorescent dye tracers through the endodermis at the site of secondary root formation in corn (Zea mays) and broad bean (Vidia faba). Can J. Bot. 59, 618–625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen H P 1968 Entry and distribution of aluminum in Zea mays. Planta (Berlin) 81, 28–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers H J 1973 Iron-binding catechols and virulence in Escherichia coli. Infect. Immunity 7, 445–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Römheld V and Marschner H 1981a Effect of Fe stress on utilization of Fe chelates by efficient and inefficient plant species. J. Plant Nutr. 3, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Römheld V and Marschner H 1981b Rhythmic iron stress reactions in sunflower at suboptimal iron supply. Physiol. Plant. 53, 347–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Römheld V and Marschner H 1986 Evidence for a specific uptake system for iron phytosiderophores in roots of grasses. Plant Physiol. 80, 175–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc 1986 SUGI Supplemental Library User's Guide, Version 5 Edition. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, 662 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sposito G and Mattigod S V 1980 GEOCHEM: A computer program for the calculation of chemical equilibria in soil solutions and other natural water systems. Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, University of California, Riverside, 92 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugiura Y, Tanaka H, Mino Y, Ishida I, Ota N, Inoue M, Nomoto K, Yoshioka H and Takemoto T 1981 Structure of 2′-deoxymugineic acid, a novel amino acid possessing an iron-chelating activity. Chimia 35, 249–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunda W G and Guillard R R 1976 Relationship between cupric ion activity and the toxicity of copper to phytoplankton. J. Mar. Res. 34, 511–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takagi S-I, Nomoto K and Takemoto T 1984 Physiological aspect of mugineic acid, a possible phytosiderophore of graminaceous plants. J. Plant Nutr. 7, 469–477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor G J and Foy C D 1985 Differential uptake and toxicity of ionic and chelated copper in Triticum aestivum. Can. J. Bot. 63, 1271–1275.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. P. F. Bell

    Present address: School and Environmental Sciences, University of California, 92521, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, University of Maryland, 20742, College Park, MD, USA

    P. F. Bell & J. S. Angle

  2. Soil Microbial Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 20705, Beltsville, MD, USA

    R. L. Chaney

Authors
  1. P. F. Bell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. L. Chaney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. S. Angle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bell, P.F., Chaney, R.L. & Angle, J.S. Free metal activity and total metal concentrations as indices of micronutrient availability to barley [Hordeum vulgare (L.) ‘Klages’]. Plant Soil 130, 51–62 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011855

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011855

Key words

Search

Navigation