Peculiarities of Plant Mineral Composition in Semi-Desert Conditions

• Published in: International Journal of Plant Biology 2024-11, Vol.15 (4), p.1229-1249
• Main Authors: Golubkina, Nadezhda, Sheshnitsan, Sergey, Koshevarov, Andrew, Pirogov, Nikolay, Plotnikova, Ulyana, Tallarita, Alessio Vincenzo, Murariu, Otilia Cristina, Merlino, Luca, Caruso, Gianluca
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adaptation; plant mineral elements; salinity; semi-desert environment; soils
• ISSN: 2037-0164; 2037-0164
• DOI: 10.3390/ijpb15040085

Plant–soil interactions in semi-desert conditions elicit the development of plant-specific adaptation strategies, including selective accumulation of macro- and microelements. Using an ICP-MS analysis of 12 plant species belonging to Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Ephedraceae, Amarantaceae, and Lamiaceae families of the Baskunchak Nature Reserve, remarkable species differences in accumulation of 22 macro- and microelements were recorded. The most common Artemisia species and Poaceae representatives belong to two different groups of plants with high content of Na, K, Zn, Cu, V and high antioxidant status and low Si typical for the former group and the opposite characteristics for the latter one. The mentioned phenomenon indicates two diverse powerful adaptation mechanisms based on the antioxidant defense and Si protection, respectively. The high frequency of remarkable levels of Se in plants with BCF exceeding 1 (Glycyrrhiza aspera, Phlomis pungens, Tanacetum nullifolium, Helichrysum nogaicum, and Jurinea ewersmannii), Zn in all species except Poa angustifolia, and Cu in the Asteraceae plants Phlomis pungens and Krascheninnikovia ceratoides suggests the significance of these elements in plant tolerance to environmental stresses. Plant–soil positive correlations were recorded for Sr (r = 0.866; p < 0.001); plant Sr, Fe, Co, Pb levels and soil salinity (r = 0.763, p < 0.001; r = 0.606, p < 0.03; r = 0.627, p < 0.02; r = 0.548, p < 0.05, respectively); and Cr only for Asteraceae species (r = 0.986, p < 0.001). The results obtained in this research may be used in plant adaptability evaluation in conditions of environmental stress.