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The effects of nickel, calcium and magnesium on the acid phosphatase activity of two Alyssum species
Author(s) -
GABBRIELLI R.,
GROSSI L.,
VERGNANO O.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1989.tb02357.x
Subject(s) - acid phosphatase , phosphatase , chemistry , calcium , magnesium , enzyme assay , botany , enzyme , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry
summary Root Surface acid phosphatase activity was assessed in seedlings of two species of Alyssum , one endemic to Tuscan serpentines ( Alyssum bertolonii Desv.) and the other of wide occurrence ( Alyssum saxatile L.), cultivated in solutions to which various concentrations of Ni 2+ , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ were added. Treatments were applied in two factorial experiments of type 2 n . A concentration of 0.01 mM Ni 2+ markedly stimulated phosphatase activity in A. bertolonii , but slightly decreased it in A. saxatile. Increased Ca 2+ concentration stimulated enzyme activity in both species, hut in A. bertolonii the highest activity was obtained with low Ca 2+ concentrations, whilst the opposite occured in A. saxatile. A. bertolonii instead required high Mg 2+ concentrations to increase phosphatase activity significantly. The same concentrations were toxic to A. saxatile. In the serpentine species, favourable conditions for the increase of phosphatase activity were induced by a high Mg 2+ /Ca 2+ ratio, which also favoured dry mass production. Therefore it is possible that the increase of phosphatase activity might be an aspect of plant adaptation to serpentines.