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Metal ion effects on hydraulic conductivity of bacterial cellulose–pectin composites used as plant cell wall analogs
Author(s) -
McKenna Brigid A.,
Kopittke Peter M.,
Wehr J. Bernhard,
Blamey F. Pax C.,
Menzies Neal W.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2009.01306.x
Subject(s) - pectin , cell wall , elongation , hydraulic conductivity , metal , cellulose , conductivity , turgor pressure , chemistry , bacterial cellulose , trace metal , scanning electron microscope , metal ions in aqueous solution , porosity , materials science , composite material , biophysics , metallurgy , soil water , biochemistry , biology , ultimate tensile strength , ecology
Low concentrations of some trace metals markedly reduce root elongation rate and cause ruptures to root rhizodermal and outer cortical cells in the elongation zone. The interactions between the trace metals and plant components responsible for these effects are not well understood but may be linked to changes in water uptake, cell turgor and cell wall extensibility. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Al, La, Cu, Gd, Sc and Ru on the saturated hydraulic conductivity of bacterial cellulose (BC)–pectin composites, used as plant cell wall analogs. Hydraulic conductivity was reduced to ≈30% of the initial flow rate by 39 µ M Al and 0.6 µ M Cu, ≈40% by 4.6 µ M La, 3 µ M Sc and 4.4 µ M Ru and ≈55% by 3.4 µ M Gd. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed changes in the ultrastructure of the composites. The results suggest that trace metal binding decreases the hydraulic conductivity through changes in pectin porosity. The experiment illustrates the importance of metal interactions with pectin, and the implications of such an interaction in plant metal toxicity and in normal cell wall processes.