Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T06:15:57.170Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Reserves of aluminium and mineral nutrients in seeds of Eucalyptus calophylla (Myrtaceae) with reference to the globoid inclusions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Louise M. Egerton-Warburton*
Affiliation:
Plant Sciences (Horticulture)
Brendon J. Griffin
Affiliation:
Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia, Australia
John Kuo
Affiliation:
Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Western Australia, Australia
*
*Correspondence

Abstract

Amounts of mineral nutrients and aluminium (Al) were assessed in the globoid inclusions, proteinaceous matrix and druse crystals of Eucalyptus calophylla seeds collected from trees grown in coal-mine (mean soil pH 4.3, Al 260 μg g−1) and forest soils (pH 5.3, Al 10 μg g−1). Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) of bulk frozen hydrated samples indicated that significantly higher amounts of Mg, P, S, K and Ca occurred in the globoid inclusions of mine- than forest-site seeds. In both seedstocks, Al was detected in the globoid inclusions but not in the proteinaceous matrix or druse crystals. Significantly higher amounts of Al occurred in mine-site samples of dry and germinating seeds than in forest-site seeds. It was concluded that globoid inclusions may be useful as indicators of the soil conditions in which the parent plant was grown.

Type
Short Communication
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, S.J. (1974) Chemical analysis of ecological materials. London, Longman.Google Scholar
Barrow, N.J. (1977) Phosphorus uptake and utilization by tree seedlings. Australian Journal of Botany 25, 571584.Google Scholar
Bartle, J.H. and Slessar, G.C. (1989) Mining and rehabilitation. pp 357377in Dell, B., Havel, J.J., Malajczuk, N. (Eds) The jarrah forest. A complex mediterranean ecosystem. Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buttrose, M.S. and Lott, J.N.A. (1978) Calcium oxalate druse crystals and other inclusions in seed protein bodies: Eucalyptus and jojoba. Canadian Journal of Botany 56, 20832091.Google Scholar
Foy, C.D., Chaney, R.L. and White, L.C. (1978) The physiology of metal toxicity in plants. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 29, 511566.Google Scholar
Godbold, D.L., Fritz, E. and Hüttermann, A. (1988) Aluminium toxicity and forest decline. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 85, 38883892.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Koch, J.M. (1984) Rehabilitation studies of open-cut coal mining at Collie, Western Australia. PhD Thesis, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands.Google Scholar
Kuo, J., Hocking, P.J. and Pate, J.S. (1982) Nutrient reserves in seeds of selected Proteaceous species from southwestern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 30, 231249.Google Scholar
Lott, J.N.A. (1980) Protein bodies. pp 589613in Stumpf, P.K., Conn, E.E. (Eds) The biochemistry of plants. A comprehensive treatise. Vol.1. New York, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Lott, J.N.A. and Buttrose, M.S. (1978a) Thin sectioning, freeze fracturing, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and chemical analysis in the study of inclusions in seed protein bodies: almond, Brazil nut, and quandong. Canadian Journal of Botany 56, 20502061.Google Scholar
Lott, J.N.A. and Buttrose, M.S. (1978b) Location of reserves of mineral elements in seed protein bodies: macadamia nut, walnut and hazel nut. Canadian Journal of Botany 56, 20722082.Google Scholar
Murphy, J. and Riley, J.P. (1962) A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytica Chimica Acta 7, 3136.Google Scholar
Pate, J.S., Rasins, E., Rullo, J. and Kuo, J. (1986) Seed nutrient reserves of Proteaceae with special reference to protein bodies and their inclusions. Annals of Botany 57, 747770.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Searcy, K.B. and Mulcahy, D.L. (1985) Pollen tube competition and selection for metal tolerance in Silene dioica (Caryophyllaceae) and Mimulus guttatus (Scrophulariaceae). American Journal of Botany 72, 16951699.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statham, P.J. and Pawley, J.B. (1978) A new method for particle X-ray micro-analysis based on peak to background measurement. Scanning Electron Microscopy 1, 469478.Google Scholar
Stock, W.D., Pate, J.S. and Delfs, J. (1990) Influence of seed size and quality on seedling development under low nutrient conditions in five Australian and South African members of the Proteaceae. Journal of Ecology 78, 10051020.Google Scholar
Thompson, J.F., Madison, J.T., Waterman, M.A. and Muenster, A.M.E. (1981) Effect of methionine on growth and protein composition of cultured soybean cotyledons. Phytochemistry 20, 941945.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thurman, D.A. (1981) Mechanism of metal tolerance in higher plants. pp 239249in Lepp, N.W. (Ed.) Effects of heavy metal pollution on plants volume 2. London, Applied Science Publishers.Google Scholar
Van Staden, J. and Comins, N.R. (1976) Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of protein bodies in Protea compacta cotyledons. Planta 130, 219221.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Webb, J.L. (1954) Aluminium accumulation in the Australian-New Guinea flora. Australian Journal of Botany 2, 176197.Google Scholar
Webb, M.A. and Arnott, J.J. (1982) A survey of calcium oxalate crystals and other mineral inclusions in seeds. Scanning Electron Microscopy 2, 11091131.Google Scholar
Zar, J.H. (1984) Biostatistical analysis. 2nd Edition. New York, Prentice Hall.Google Scholar