Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult
Unusual dolomite substrates present a phenomenon known as dolomitophily, which refers to the specificity of the flora that grows on them. Within the dolomitic flora, one of the most widespread plants in Spain is the characteristic species <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult., w...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| author | Encarna Merlo Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez Fabián Martínez-Hernández Andrea Ortiz-Úbeda Juan Mota |
| author_facet | Encarna Merlo Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez Fabián Martínez-Hernández Andrea Ortiz-Úbeda Juan Mota |
| author_sort | Encarna Merlo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Unusual dolomite substrates present a phenomenon known as dolomitophily, which refers to the specificity of the flora that grows on them. Within the dolomitic flora, one of the most widespread plants in Spain is the characteristic species <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult., which forms whitish prostrate thymes. The present study focused on the knowledge about the ionome (or elementome) of a characteristic dolomite species and some of its applications, both in terms of its nutritional behaviour and in determining the factors that favour the rich and rare flora growing on dolomitic soils. Soil, foliar, stem and root samples of the species studied were collected from different locations in the south of Spain. The samples were analysed to determine their mineral composition. The Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and the Translocation Factor (TF) were calculated, relating the values of the mineral contents in the soil, both total and phytoavailable, to the values from the foliar, root and stem samples. It was found that this species was able to accumulate some elements, including B, Cr, Cu, Ni, Ti, Tl and Zn, which can be phytotoxic in high concentrations, and are considered to be some of the main toxic metals in soils. In addition, it was observed that the plant can accumulate metals in the stem and leaves (TF), thus proving that it is capable of transporting them from the root to the aerial part of the plant. The data obtained may indicate that other species in the plant community may possess this bioindicator or even phytoremediation capacity. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:21:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-fd5a1ab2f1804c6f969c254a6f358d4e2023-11-23T00:02:29ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2021-11-011011125310.3390/land10111253Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) CoultEncarna Merlo0Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández1Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez2Fabián Martínez-Hernández3Andrea Ortiz-Úbeda4Juan Mota5Department of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, SpainDepartment of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, SpainDepartment of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, SpainDepartment of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, SpainDepartment of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, SpainDepartment of Biology and Geology, CEI·MAR and CECOUAL, University of Almería, E-04120 Almería, SpainUnusual dolomite substrates present a phenomenon known as dolomitophily, which refers to the specificity of the flora that grows on them. Within the dolomitic flora, one of the most widespread plants in Spain is the characteristic species <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult., which forms whitish prostrate thymes. The present study focused on the knowledge about the ionome (or elementome) of a characteristic dolomite species and some of its applications, both in terms of its nutritional behaviour and in determining the factors that favour the rich and rare flora growing on dolomitic soils. Soil, foliar, stem and root samples of the species studied were collected from different locations in the south of Spain. The samples were analysed to determine their mineral composition. The Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and the Translocation Factor (TF) were calculated, relating the values of the mineral contents in the soil, both total and phytoavailable, to the values from the foliar, root and stem samples. It was found that this species was able to accumulate some elements, including B, Cr, Cu, Ni, Ti, Tl and Zn, which can be phytotoxic in high concentrations, and are considered to be some of the main toxic metals in soils. In addition, it was observed that the plant can accumulate metals in the stem and leaves (TF), thus proving that it is capable of transporting them from the root to the aerial part of the plant. The data obtained may indicate that other species in the plant community may possess this bioindicator or even phytoremediation capacity.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/11/1253Bioconcentration Factordolomiteheavy metalsionomephytoremediationpriority habitat |
| spellingShingle | Encarna Merlo Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez Fabián Martínez-Hernández Andrea Ortiz-Úbeda Juan Mota Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult Land Bioconcentration Factor dolomite heavy metals ionome phytoremediation priority habitat |
| title | Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult |
| title_full | Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult |
| title_fullStr | Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult |
| title_short | Elementome of Endemic Dolomitic Flora: <i>Pterocephalus spathulatus</i> (Lag.) Coult |
| title_sort | elementome of endemic dolomitic flora i pterocephalus spathulatus i lag coult |
| topic | Bioconcentration Factor dolomite heavy metals ionome phytoremediation priority habitat |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/11/1253 |
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