Manganese hyperaccumulation from non-contaminated soil in Chengiopanax sciadophylloides Franch. et Sav. and its correlation with calcium accumulation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the ability of Chengiopanax sciadophylloides Franch. et Sav. to hyperaccumulate manganese (Mn). We were particularly interested in (1) Mn uptake ability relative to soil-Mn availability, (2) the potential use of this species in phytomining, and (3) potential key physiological factors associated with Mn hyperaccumulation ability. Among plants sampled from 17 locations in their native Japan provenance, themaximumfoliarMn concentrationwas 23,000mg kg-1 dryweight (dw;mean: 11,000mg kg-1). Soils fromall sites examined contained low to normalMn concentrations. Therewere no significant relationships detected between several soil factors and foliar Mn concentrations, although we found a strong positive correlation between foliar Mn and calcium (Ca) concentrations. Half of the foliar Mn was readily extractable with water, and almost all Mn was extractable with hydrochloric acid (HCl). Furthermore, a highly purifiedMn compound was precipitated from leaf ash solutions when pH was adjusted to 8-10. We demonstrated that C. sciadophylloides has an extraordinary Mn-accumulating ability in non-contaminated soil and that Ca accumulation is correlated with Mn hyperaccumulation. We also showed that collecting Mn from C. sciadophylloides is easy and straightforward. We discuss the potential for using the plant in Mn phytomining. © 2013 Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.