Similar articles

Abstract: The increasingly serious problem of acid rain is leading to increased potassium (K) loss from soils, and in our field investigation, we found that even congenerically relative Mosla species show different tolerance to K-deficiency. A hydroponic study was conducted on the growth of two Mosla species and their morphological, physiological and stoichiometric traits in response to limited (0.35 mmol K/L), normal (3.25 mmol K/L) and excessive (6.50 mmol K/L) K concentrations. Mosla hangchowensis is an endangered plant, whereas Mosla dianthera a widespread weed. In the case of M. hangchowensis, in comparison with normal K concentration, K-limitation induced a significant reduction in net photosynthetic rate (P_n), soluble protein content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. However, leaf mass ratio (LMR) and root mass ratio (RMR) were changed little by K-limitation. In contrast, for M. dianthera, K-limitation had little effect on P_n, soluble protein content, SOD activity, and MDA concentration, but increased LMR and RMR. Critical values of N (nitrogen):K and K:P (phosphorus) ratios in the shoots indicated that limitation in acquiring K occurred under K-limited conditions for M. hangchowensis but not for M. dianthera. We found that low K content in natural habitats was a restrictive factor in the growth and distribution of M. hangchowensis, and soil K-deficiency caused by acid rain worsened the situation of M. hangchowensis, while M. dianthera could well acclimate to the increasing K-deficiency. We suggest that controlling the acid rain and applying K fertilizers may be an effective way to rescue the endangered M. hangchowensis.

[1] Aerts, R., Chapin, F.S., 2000. The mineral nutrition of wild plants revisited: a re-evaluation of processes and patterns. Adv. Ecol. Res., 30:1-67.

[2] Ashraf, M., Naz, F., 1994. Responses of some arid zone grasses to K-deficiency. Acta Physiol. Plant, 16:69-80.

[3] Bao, S.D., 2005. Soil and Agricultural Chemistry Analysis. China Agriculture Press, Beijing, China, p.106-268 (in Chinese).

[4] Basile, B., Reidel, E.J., Weinbaum, S.A., DeJong, T.M., 2003. Leaf potassium concentration, CO₂ exchange and light interception in almond trees (Prunus dulcis (Mill) D.A. Webb). Sci. Hortic.-AMSTERDAM, 98(2):185-194.

[5] Beauchamp, C., Fridovich, I., 1971. Superoxide dismutase: improved assays and an assay applicable to acrylamide gels. Anal. Biochem., 44(1):276-287.

[6] Chang, J., Liu, K., Ge, Y., Qin, G.Q., 1999. Features of the photosynthesis of Mosla hangchowensis and the response of photosynthesis to soil water status. Acta Phytoecol. Sin., 23:62-70 (in Chinese).

[7] Chapin, F.S.III, 1980. The mineral nutrition of wild plants. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 11:233-260.

[8] Fang, Y.Y., Wang, J.X., Wei, Z., Zhang, C.F., He, Y.Q., Zheng, C.Z., Lin, Q., Zhang, S.Y., Qiu, B.L., 1989. Flora of Zhejiang (V). Science and Technology Publishing House, Hangzhou, China, p.289-290 (in Chinese).

[9] Farr, C.H., 1925. Root-hair elongation in Knop’s solution and in tap water. Am. J. Bot., 12(7):372-383.

[10] Foyer, C.H., Lelandais, M., Kunert, K.J., 1994. Photooxidative stress in plants. Physiol. Plant., 92(4):696-717.

[11] Ge, Y., Chang, J., 2001. Existence analysis of populations of Molsa hangchowensis, an endangered plant. Bot. Bul. Acad. Sin., 42:141-147.

[12] Ge, Y., Chang, J., Qin, G.Q., Pu, Z.B., Wu, J.Z., 1997. The Correlation of Element Uptake in Mosla Hangchowensis. In: Yan, L.J., Bao, Y.X., Qian, J.D. (Eds.), Research on and Probe into Ecology. China Environmental Science, Beijing, China, p.137-141 (in Chinese).

[13] Halliwell, B., 1987. Oxidative damage, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant protection in chloroplasts. Chem. Phys. Lipids, 44(2-4):327-340.

[14] Hunt, R., 1978. Plant Growth Analysis. Edward Arnold, London, UK.

[15] Ivring, P.M., 1983. Acidic precipitation effects on crops: a review and analysis of research. J. Environ. Qual., 12:442-453.

[16] Jia, Y.B., Yang, X.E., Feng, Y., Jilani, G., 2008. Differential response of root morphology to potassium deficient stress among rice genotypes varying in potassium efficiency. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B, 9(5):427-434.

[17] Jordan, B.R., He, J., Chow, W.S., Anderson, J.M., 1992. Changes in mRNA levels and polypeptide subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase in response to supplementary ultraviolet-B radiation. Plant Cell Environ., 15(1):91-98.

[18] Koerselman, W., Meuleman, A.M., 1996. The vegetation N:P ratio: a new tool to detect the nature of nutrient limitation. J. Appl. Ecol., 33(6):1441-1450.

[19] Larson, R.A., 1988. The antioxidants of higher plants. Phytochemistry, 27(4):969-978.

[20] Lowry, O.H., Rosebrough, N.J., Farr, A.L., Randal, R.J., 1951. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem., 193:265-275.

[21] Luo, Y.H., Dai, T.G., Liang, K., 2006. Study on distribution of the atmospheric dust fall and its metal element contents in shaoguan city, Guangdong province. Geol. Surv. Res., 29(1):64-68 (in Chinese).

[22] Marschner, H., 1995. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. Academic Press, San Diego, USA.

[23] MEP (Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China), 2007. Report on the State of the Environment in China 2006. Available from: http://english.mep.gov.cn/standards_reports/soe/SOE2006/200711/t20071105_112565.htm [Accessed 08/02/2009].

[24] Mou, Y.M., Zhu, G.L., 2005. The study of acid rain distribution of Zhejiang Province based on GIS. Bul. Sci. Tech., 21(3):356-359 (in Chinese).

[25] Nisbet, A.F., Shaw, S., 1996. Dynamics of Radionuclide Behaviour in Soil Solution: Compilation of Data from Lysimeter and Field Studies. Technical Report, NRPB-M674. National Radiological Protection Board, Chilton, UK.

[26] Olde Venterink, H., Wassen, M.J., Verkroost, A., Ruiter, P.C., 2003. Species richness-productivity patterns differ between N-, P- and K-limited wetlands. Ecology, 84(8): 2191-2199.

[27] Öncel, I., Yurdakulol, E., Keleş, Y., Kurt, L., Yıldız, A., 2004. Role of antioxidant defense system and biochemical adaptation on stress tolerance of high mountain and steppe plants. Acta Oecol.-Int. J. Ecol., 26(3):211-218.

[28] Pothier, D., Prévost, M., 2002. Photosynthetic light response and growth analysis of competitive regeneration after partial cutting in a boreal mixed stand. Trees-Structure and Function, 16(4-5):365-373.

[29] Quintero, J.M., Fournier, J.M., Ramos, J., Benlloch, M., 1998. K⁺ status and ABA affect both exudation rate and hydraulic conductivity in sunflower roots. Physiol. Plant., 102(2):279-284.

[30] Reisenauer, H.M., 1966. Mineral Nutrients in Soil Solution. In: Altman, P.L., Dittmer, D.S. (Eds.), Environmental Biology. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Bethesda, p.507-508.

[31] Sakai, S., 1995. Evolutionarily stable growth of a sapling which waits for future gap formation under closed canopy. Evol. Ecol., 9(4):444-452.

[32] Stewart, R.C., Bewley, J.D., 1980. Lipid peroxidation associated with accelerated aging of soybean axes. Plant Physiol., 65(2):245-248.

[33] Tilman, D., 1980. Resources: A Graphical-Mechanistic Approach to Competition and predation. Am. Nat., 116(3):362-393.

[34] Wang, D.Z., Jiang, X., Bian, Y.R., Lang, Y.H., Wang, F., He, J.Z., 2003. K⁺ adsorption characteristics and reaction kinetics in red soft under acid deposition. China Environ. Sci., 23(2):171-175 (in Chinese).

[35] Yuen, S.H., Pollard, A.G., 1952. The determination of nitrogen in agricultural materials by the Nessler reagent: preparation of the reagent. J. Sci. Food Agric., 3(10):441-447.

[36] Zhang, J.E., Ouyang, Y., Ling, D.J., 2007. Impacts of simulated acid rain on cation leaching from the Latosol in south China. Chemosphere, 67(11):2131-2137.