Age-Dependent Manganese Hyperaccumulation in Chengiopanax sciadophylloides (Araliaceae)

ABSTRACT

Chengiopanax sciadophylloides is a Japanese tree previously known to accumulate large concentrations of manganese (Mn) in its leaves. To date, this distinctive characteristic has not been fully clarified to use these characteristics for physiological models for research of mineral acquisition and phytoremediation of Mn. In this investigation, the accumulation of Mn in both small young and tall mature C. sciadophylloides trees, and its overall distribution through young trees were examined. The foliar Mn concentrations of mature trees were consistently found to exceed 10,000 mg kg^{− 1} DW, with recorded maximum values of up to 23,500 mg kg^{− 1}, while those of young trees were found to be around 8,700 mg kg^{− 1}. The concentrations of eleven other metals in C. sciadophylloides was also measured, and found that concentration of each divalent cation was lower than average values of many samples from wide area in Japan.

Keywords:

• Chengiopanax sciadophylloides
• foliar Mn
• hyperaccumulator
• manganese

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful Professor Dr. Alan Baker and Ms. Denise Fernando (The University of Melbourne) for proof-reading this manuscript and providing constructive criticism. This work was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid for Young Researchers (C) to T. M. (No. 181878004500) and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas “Nutrient uptake and transport in plants Identification of molecules responsible for transport and their regulation mechanisms” to H. O. and T. M (No. 181805600900) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.

Notes

∗ Reference: Takada et al (1994), including mining area.