1
|
Henningsen JN, Görlach BM, Quintero JM, Garrido RR, Mühling KH, Fernández V. Leaf wettability is the main driver for foliar P uptake in P-deficient maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 205:108170. [PMID: 38008008 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Foliar fertilisation is an alternative form of nutrient application, which is of particular interest for phosphorus (P), where the efficiency of soil fertilisation is low. However, the uptake of foliar-applied nutrients is insufficiently characterised. The aim of this study was to investigate the individual and combined significance of wettability, foliar fertiliser properties and surfactant on foliar P uptake in P-deficient maize (Zea mays L.). Sorption and desorption properties of two P salts used as foliar fertilisers (KH2PO4, K2HPO4) were determined with dynamic vapor sorption isotherms. Leaf surfaces and foliar spray depositions of two differently wettable maize cultivars were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurement. Phosphorus uptake was then linked to leaf and fertiliser solution properties and its effect on cell ultrastructure was characterised by transmission electron microscopy. Wettability was the key factor for P absorption, as all foliar fertilisers were taken up reaching a tissue-P level of adequately nourished plants. For unwettable leaves, only solutions with surfactant, especially the combination of surfactant and hygroscopic P salt (K2HPO4) were taken up. This study provides novel insights into the significance of leaf surface and fertiliser properties, which can thus contribute to an improvement of P fertilisation strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jon Niklas Henningsen
- Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Kiel University, Hermann-Rodewald-Straße 2, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Bruno Maximilian Görlach
- Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Kiel University, Hermann-Rodewald-Straße 2, 24118, Kiel, Germany; German Agricultural Society e.V., 60489, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - José Manuel Quintero
- Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. de Utrera, km 1, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Ramiro Recena Garrido
- Departamento de Agronomía, ETSIA, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. de Utrera, km 1, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Karl Hermann Mühling
- Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Kiel University, Hermann-Rodewald-Straße 2, 24118, Kiel, Germany.
| | - Victoria Fernández
- Systems and Natural Resources Department, School of Forest Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Henningsen JN, Venturas MD, Quintero JM, Garrido RR, Mühling KH, Fernández V. Leaf surface features of maize cultivars and response to foliar phosphorus application: effect of leaf stage and plant phosphorus status. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2023; 175:e14093. [PMID: 38148186 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Soil phosphorus (P) application is the most common fertilisation technique but may involve constraints due to chemical fixation and microbial immobilisation. Furthermore, excessive P fertilisation leads to P runoff into water bodies, threatening ecosystems, so targeted foliar P fertilisation is an interesting alternative. This study aimed to determine the importance of leaf surface characteristics for foliar P uptake in P-deficient maize (Zea mays L.). The leaf surface of four maize cultivars was characterised by electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Uptake of foliar-applied P by maize cultivars was estimated, measuring also leaf photosynthetic rates after foliar P spraying. Plants of cultivar P7948 were found to be wettable from the 4th leaf in acropetal direction, whereas other cultivars were unwettable until the 6th leaf had developed. Minor variations in stomatal number and cuticle composition were recorded, but no differences in foliar P absorption were observed between cultivars. Nevertheless, cultivars showed variation in the improvement of photosynthetic capacity following foliar P application. Phosphorus deficiency resulted in ultrastructural disorganisation of mesophyll cells and chloroplasts, which impaired photosynthetic performance, yet there was no effect on stomatal frequency and leaf wettability. This study provides new insights into the influence of P deficiency and cultivar on leaf surface characteristics, foliar P uptake and its effect on physiological processes. Understanding the relationships between leaf characteristics and P uptake allows a more targeted evaluation of foliar P fertilisation as an application technique and contributes to the understanding of foliar uptake mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin David Venturas
- Systems and Natural Resources Department, School of Forest Engineering, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Victoria Fernández
- Systems and Natural Resources Department, School of Forest Engineering, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li C, Mo Y, Wang N, Xing L, Qu Y, Chen Y, Yuan Z, Ali A, Qi J, Fernández V, Wang Y, Kopittke PM. The overlooked functions of trichomes: Water absorption and metal detoxication. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:669-687. [PMID: 36581782 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Trichomes are epidermal outgrowths on plant shoots. Their roles in protecting plants against herbivores and in the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites have long been recognized. Recently, studies are increasingly showing that trichomes also play important roles in water absorption and metal detoxication, with these roles having important implications for ecology, the environment, and agriculture. However, these two functions of trichomes have been largely overlooked and much remains unknown. In this review, we show that the trichomes of 37 plant species belonging to 14 plant families are involved in water absorption, while the trichomes of 33 species from 13 families are capable of sequestering metals within their trichomes. The ability of trichomes to absorb water results from their decreased hydrophobicity compared to the remainder of the leaf surface as well as the presence of special structures for collecting and absorbing water. In contrast, the metal detoxication function of trichomes results not only from the good connection of their basal cells to the underlying vascular tissues, but also from the presence of metal-chelating ligands and transporters within the trichomes themselves. Knowledge gaps and critical future research questions regarding these two trichome functions are highlighted. This review improves our understanding on trichomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cui Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yingying Mo
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Nina Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Longyi Xing
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Qu
- Baoji Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Baoji, China
| | - Yanlong Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zuoqiang Yuan
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Arshad Ali
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Hebei, China
| | - Jiyan Qi
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Victoria Fernández
- School of Forest Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yuheng Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peter M Kopittke
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zavafer A, Ball MC. Good vibrations: Raman spectroscopy enables insights into plant biochemical composition. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2023; 50:1-16. [PMID: 36592984 DOI: 10.1071/fp21335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Non-invasive techniques are needed to enable an integrated understanding of plant metabolic responses to environmental stresses. Raman spectroscopy is one such technique, allowing non-destructive chemical characterisation of samples in situ and in vivo and resolving the chemical composition of plant material at scales from microns to metres. Here, we review Raman band assignments of pigments, structural and non-structural carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and secondary metabolites in plant material and consider opportunities this technology raises for studies in vascular plant physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alonso Zavafer
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2000, Australia; and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2001, Australia; and Present address: Department Biological Sciences and Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering, Brock University, St. Catherines, ON, Canada
| | - Marilyn C Ball
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2000, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Arsic M, Persson DP, Schjoerring JK, Thygesen LG, Lombi E, Doolette CL, Husted S. Foliar-applied manganese and phosphorus in deficient barley: Linking absorption pathways and leaf nutrient status. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2022; 174:e13761. [PMID: 36004733 PMCID: PMC9543583 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Foliar fertilization delivers essential nutrients directly to plant tissues, reducing excessive soil fertilizer applications that can lead to eutrophication following nutrient leaching. Foliar nutrient absorption is a dynamic process affected by leaf surface structure and composition, plant nutrient status, and ion physicochemical properties. We applied multiple methods to study the foliar absorption behaviors of manganese (Mn) and phosphorus (P) in nutrient-deficient spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) at two growth stages. Nutrient-specific chlorophyll a fluorescence assays were used to visualize leaf nutrient status, while laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to visualize foliar absorption pathways for P and Mn ions. Rapid Mn absorption was facilitated by a relatively thin cuticle with a low abundance of waxes and a higher stomatal density in Mn-deficient plants. Following absorption, Mn accumulated in epidermal cells and in the photosynthetically active mesophyll, enabling a fast (6 h) restoration of Mn-dependent photosynthetic processes. Conversely, P-deficient plants developed thicker cuticles and epidermal cell walls, which reduced the penetration of P across the leaf surface. Foliar-applied P accumulated in trichomes and fiber cells above leaf veins without reaching the mesophyll and, as a consequence, no restoration of P-dependent photosynthetic processes was observed. This study reveals new links between leaf surface morphology, foliar-applied ion absorption pathways, and the restoration of affected physiological processes in nutrient-deficient leaves. Understanding that ions may have different absorption pathways across the leaf surface is critical for the future development of efficient fertilization strategies for crops in nutrient-limited soils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maja Arsic
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
- University of South AustraliaFuture Industries InstituteMawson LakesSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Present address:
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Biosciences PrecinctSt. LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Daniel P. Persson
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Jan K. Schjoerring
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Lisbeth G. Thygesen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Enzo Lombi
- University of South AustraliaFuture Industries InstituteMawson LakesSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Casey L. Doolette
- University of South AustraliaFuture Industries InstituteMawson LakesSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Søren Husted
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDenmark
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li C, Wang L, Wu J, Blamey FPC, Wang N, Chen Y, Ye Y, Wang L, Paterson DJ, Read TL, Wang P, Lombi E, Wang Y, Kopittke PM. Translocation of Foliar Absorbed Zn in Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) Leaves. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:757048. [PMID: 35310668 PMCID: PMC8924476 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.757048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Foliar zinc (Zn) fertilization is an important approach for overcoming crop Zn deficiency, yet little is known regarding the subsequent translocation of this foliar-applied Zn. Using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) and transcriptome analysis, the present study examined the translocation of foliar absorbed Zn in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) leaves. Although bulk analyses showed that there had been minimal translocation of the absorbed Zn out of the leaf within 7 days, in situ analyses showed that the distribution of Zn in the leaf had changed with time. Specifically, when Zn was applied to the leaf for 0.5 h and then removed, Zn primarily accumulated within the upper and lower epidermal layers (when examined after 3 h), but when examined after 24 h, the Zn had moved to the vascular tissues. Transcriptome analyses identified a range of genes involved in stress response, cell wall reinforcement, and binding that were initially upregulated following foliar Zn application, whereas they were downregulated after 24 h. These observations suggest that foliar Zn application caused rapid stress to the leaf, with the initial Zn accumulation in the epidermis as a detoxification strategy, but once this stress decreased, Zn was then moved to the vascular tissues. Overall, this study has shown that despite foliar Zn application causing rapid stress to the leaf and that most of the Zn stayed within the leaf over 7 days, the distribution of Zn in the leaf had changed, with Zn mostly located in the vascular tissues 24 h after the Zn had been applied. Not only do the data presented herein provide new insight for improving the efficiency of foliar Zn fertilizers, but our approach of combining XFM with a transcriptome methodological system provides a novel approach for the study of element translocation in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cui Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jingtao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - F. Pax C. Blamey
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nina Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yanlong Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yin Ye
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | | | - Thea L. Read
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia
| | - Peng Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Enzo Lombi
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia
| | - Yuheng Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Peter M. Kopittke
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Watts S, Kariyat R. Morphological characterization of trichomes shows enormous variation in shape, density and dimensions across the leaves of 14 Solanum species. AOB PLANTS 2021; 13:plab071. [PMID: 34917310 PMCID: PMC8670628 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plab071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Trichomes are the epidermal appendages commonly observed on plant surfaces including leaves, stem and fruits. Plant trichomes have been well studied as a structural plant defence designed to protect plants against abiotic and biotic stressors such as UV rays, temperature extremities and herbivores. Trichomes are primarily classified into glandular and non-glandular trichomes, based on the presence or absence of a glandular head. The plant genus Solanum is the largest genus of family Solanaceae that houses ~3500 species of ecological and economic importance have a diverse set of trichomes that vary in density and morphology. However, due to the incomplete and contradictory classification system, trichomes have subjective names and have been largely limited to be grouped into glandular or non-glandular types. Through this study, we did a complete workup to classify and characterize trichomes on both adaxial and abaxial leaf surface of 14 wild and domesticated species of the genus Solanum. Using electron microscopy, statistical analyses and artistic rendition, we examined finer details of trichomes and measured their density and dimensions to compile a detailed data set which can be of use for estimating the variation in trichome types, and their density, with consequences for understanding their functional roles. Our study is the first of its kind that provides us with a better and well-defined classification, density and dimension analysis to complete the morphological classification of trichomes on both leaf surfaces of a diverse range of members in Solanum genus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sakshi Watts
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
| | - Rupesh Kariyat
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
- School of Earth Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Otto R, Marques JPR, Pereira de Carvalho HW. Strategies for probing absorption and translocation of foliar-applied nutrients. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:4600-4603. [PMID: 34157117 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This article comments on:
Li C, Wu J, Pax F, Blamey F, Wang L, Zhou L, Paterson DJ, van der En A, Fernández V, Lombi E, Wang Y, Kopittke PM. 2021. Non-glandular trichomes of sunflower are important in the absorption and translocation of foliar-applied Zn. Journal of Experimental Botany 72, 5079–5092.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Otto
- University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, Pádua Dias Ave, 11, 13418-900, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Rodrigues Marques
- University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, Pádua Dias Ave, 11, 13418-900, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|