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Metal localization in water hyacinth roots from an urban wetland
Author(s) -
VESK P. A.,
NOCKOLDS C. E.,
ALLAWAY W. G.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3040.1999.00388.x
Subject(s) - hyacinth , principal component analysis , metal , soil water , wetland , environmental chemistry , eichhornia crassipes , microanalysis , endodermis , chemistry , environmental science , botany , soil science , aquatic plant , biology , materials science , macrophyte , metallurgy , ecology , mathematics , statistics , organic chemistry
PCA, principal components analysis
MDS, multidimensional scaling
STEM, scanning transmission electron microscopy
Metal localization within and around roots of water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ) growing in a wetland receiving urban run‐off was studied by energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis of sections from freeze‐substituted roots. Sampling randomly from an order of magnitude gradient in metal concentrations (Cu and Pb) allowed us the opportunity to identify general patterns of metal localization. Iron was present at high levels at the root surface, and this may have been a root plaque as described for wetland plants with roots anchored in flooded soils. Iron levels decreased centripetally across the root and were higher in cell walls than within cells. Trace metals (Cu, Zn and Pb) were not localized at the root surface. In contrast with iron, trace metal levels increased centripetally across the root, tended to be higher inside cells and were highest within cells in the stele. Variability of localization was high for all metals analysed. Multivariate statistical analyses (principal components analysis and multidimensional scaling) were useful for identifying overall patterns in elemental distribution.