Trace element dynamics in soils and plant uptake
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Supplying micronutrients to plants is a vital function of soil. Trace elements such as Fe, Zn and Se are essential for human nutrition and deficiency of these elements is widespread in humans, particularly in developing countries. There is evidence from the Rothamsted Classical Experiments that the concentrations of essential trace elements in cereal grain have decreased significantly as a result of increased yield over the last four decades. Other trace elements such as As and Cd are non-essential and toxic. Soil may be contaminated with toxic trace elements from either geogenic or anthropogenic sources, resulting in increased transfer to food crops, which causes a serious concern for food safety. In contrast, some plant species or ecotypes possess unusual abilities to hyperaccumulate trace elements. These plants have potential for phytoremediation of contaminated soils and are also interesting models for studying trace element uptake. Trace elements are present in different chemical forms in soil depending on soil conditions. Soil factors and soil-plant interactions play a crucial role in determining the bioavailability of trace elements and their uptake by plants. Our hypothesis is that soil-plant interactions influence trace element speciation in the rhizosphere, which controls the bioavailability of trace elements to plants.
The objectives of this project are:
1) to quantify the dynamics of different chemical species of trace elements in soil using techniques such as HPLC-ICP-MS and synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectrometry in order to understand their bioavailability to plant uptake;
2) to investigate how plants modify trace element speciation in the rhizosphere; and
3) to characterise the uptake, efflux and accumulation of trace elements in both crop plants and hyperaccumulators in different soils and environmental conditions.
The objectives of this project are:
1) to quantify the dynamics of different chemical species of trace elements in soil using techniques such as HPLC-ICP-MS and synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectrometry in order to understand their bioavailability to plant uptake;
2) to investigate how plants modify trace element speciation in the rhizosphere; and
3) to characterise the uptake, efflux and accumulation of trace elements in both crop plants and hyperaccumulators in different soils and environmental conditions.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
- Rothamsted Research (Lead Research Organisation)
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) (Collaboration)
- University of Castile-La Mancha (Collaboration)
- Agricultural University of Hebei (Collaboration)
- China Agricultural University (CAU) (Collaboration)
- University of Science and Technology of China USTC (Collaboration)
- French National Institute of Agricultural Research (Collaboration)
- Paris Diderot University (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford (Collaboration)
- CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Aberdeen (Collaboration)
- Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) (Collaboration)
- Quadram Institute Bioscience (Collaboration)
- Velcourt Ltd (Collaboration)
- University of Hohenheim (Collaboration)
- Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Premier Foods Group Ltd (Collaboration)
- Okayama University (Collaboration)
- Xinjiang University (Collaboration)
- Origin Fertilisers (Collaboration)
- NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (Collaboration)
- Nihon University (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Marks and Spencer (Collaboration)
- UMR Eco&Sols (Collaboration)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (Collaboration)
- LANCASTER UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Colorado State University (Collaboration)
- University of East Anglia (Collaboration)
- Yara (UK) Ltd (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Fangjie Zhao (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Meharg AA
(2013)
Variation in rice cadmium related to human exposure.
in Environmental science & technology
Ma R
(2014)
Impact of agronomic practices on arsenic accumulation and speciation in rice grain.
in Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
Huang K
(2015)
Genetically Engineering Bacillus subtilis with a Heat-Resistant Arsenite Methyltransferase for Bioremediation of Arsenic-Contaminated Organic Waste.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Zhao FJ
(2015)
Soil contamination in China: current status and mitigation strategies.
in Environmental science & technology
Zhang J
(2015)
Anaerobic arsenite oxidation by an autotrophic arsenite-oxidizing bacterium from an arsenic-contaminated paddy soil.
in Environmental science & technology
Yang X
(2015)
Accumulation and phytotoxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana.
in Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
Zhang J
(2015)
Arsenic methylation and volatilization by arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase in Pseudomonas alcaligenes NBRC14159.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Zhang SY
(2015)
Diversity and abundance of arsenic biotransformation genes in paddy soils from southern China.
in Environmental science & technology
| Description | 1) Rice is a main dietary source of the toxic metalloid arsenic. We have discovered that rice root takes up arsenite, the main form of arsenic in flooded paddy soils, efficiently through the silicon uptake pathway. Two silicon transporter proteins in rice, Lsi1 and Lsi2, are able to take up arsenite from the soil inadvertently. This is the first time that arsenite transporters have been identified in higher plants. Supplying silicon to rice plants significantly decreased arsenic accumulation in rice shoots. 2) Dimethylarsenate (DMA) is a major arsenic species in rice grain. We found that rice plants are not able to methylate inorganic arsenic. Instead, DMA is produced by microbial arsenic methylation in the soil and taken up by rice roots via the Lsi1 aquaporin. Flooding of paddy soil enhances microbial arsenic methylation and the proportion of DMA in rice grain. 3)Deficiencies of the micronutrients iron and zinc affect more than 2 billion people worldwide. Using the Rothamsted long-term experiments, we found that zinc and iron concentrations in wheat grain have decreased significantly since the mid1960s, corresponding to the introduction of the high-yielding short-straw cultivars. Comparison of old and modern wheat cultivars shows a decreasing trend of micronutrient concentrations in wheat grain with the time of cultivar introduction. 4)• We have developed methods to investigate the cellular and sub-cellular localization of trace elements, such as iron, zinc, selenium and arsenic, in plant tissues, based on synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and high resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry. Using these methods, we have identified key tissues and cell types for the sequestration of different trace elements in rice plants. |
| Exploitation Route | 1) This research represents an important breakthrough in the understanding of arsenic uptake and metabolism in plants, and points to the way of mitigation of excessive arsenic accumulation in rice by the use of silicon fertilizers. 2) These findings represent new knowledge of the arsenic biogeochemistry in the paddy rice system and could be used to change the way farmers farm. 3) This finding indicates a need to increase micronutrient density in cereals through crop breeding and agronomic methods 4) The methods offer advanced tools for researchers to investigate how different trace elements are transported and stored in plants. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Environment Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Other |
| URL | http://www.pnas.org/content/105/29/9931 |
| Description | Our research findings have been used in numerous places in the FAO/WHO Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food "Discussion paper on the possibility to develop a code of practice for prevention and reduction of arsenic contamination in rice" 2013. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Arsenic Speciation in castor bean |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | results show that free inorganic As, mainly As(III), was transported in the phloem of castor bean exposed to either As(V) or As(III), and that methylated As species were more mobile than inorganic As in the phloem |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Arsenic speciation in castor bean |
| Organisation | University of Science and Technology of China USTC |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our results show that free inorganic As, mainly As(III), was transported in the phloem of castor bean exposed to either As(V) or As(III), and that methylated As species were more mobile than inorganic As in the phloem. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Conceptual Models for Isotopic Fractionation Processes |
| Organisation | Paris Diderot University |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | demonstrated that metal isotopes have great promise to identify the chemical processes controlling Cu and Zn uptake and translocation in plants and organisms in situ. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Distinguishing Diffusional and Plant |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Our research suggests that diffusion limitation applies for uptake of Cd by both HA and NHA plants and for uptake of Ni by the HA. However, uptake of Ni by the NHA is not limited by diffusion and the biotic ligand model is probably appropriate. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Impact of sulphur fertilisation on crop response |
| Organisation | Origin Fertilisers |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | results demonstrate complex interactions between S and Se involving both soil and plant physiological processes; S can enhance Se availability in soil but inhibit selenate uptake by plants |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Impact of sulphur fertilisation on crop response |
| Organisation | Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | results demonstrate complex interactions between S and Se involving both soil and plant physiological processes; S can enhance Se availability in soil but inhibit selenate uptake by plants |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Impact of sulphur fertilisation on crop response |
| Organisation | University of Castile-La Mancha |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | results demonstrate complex interactions between S and Se involving both soil and plant physiological processes; S can enhance Se availability in soil but inhibit selenate uptake by plants |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Impact of sulphur fertilisation on crop response |
| Organisation | Yara (UK) Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | results demonstrate complex interactions between S and Se involving both soil and plant physiological processes; S can enhance Se availability in soil but inhibit selenate uptake by plants |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Impact of sulphur fertilisation on crop response to Se fertilisation |
| Organisation | Velcourt Ltd |
| Department | Velcourt R&D |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | results demonstrate complex interactions between S and Se involving both soil and plant physiological processes; S can enhance Se availability in soil but inhibit selenate uptake by plants. Furthermore, no residual effect of Se fertiliser applied in year 1 was found on the following crop |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Impact of sulphur fertilisation on crop response to selenium fertilisation |
| Organisation | Marks and Spencer |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | results demonstrate complex interactions between S and Se involving both soil and plant physiological processes; S can enhance Se availability in soil but inhibit selenate uptake by plants. Furthermore, no residual effect of Se fertiliser applied in year 1 was found on the following crop |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Localisation of iron in wheat grain |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Iron was shown to be localised strongly in the phytin globoids in the aleurone cells and to a lesser extent in the cytoplasm around the starch granules in the endosperm |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Micronutrients in wheat grain |
| Organisation | Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) |
| Department | Centre for Agricultural Research (ATK) |
| Country | Hungary |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The results from this study are useful for developing micronutrient biofortification strategies. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Role of phytochelatins in regulating arsenic accumulation in rice grain |
| Organisation | Agricultural University of Hebei |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PC complexation of arsenite in rice leaves reduces As translocation from leaves to grains, and implicate that manipulation of PC synthesis might mitigate As accumulation in rice grain. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Role of phytochelatins in regulating arsenic accumulation in rice grain |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | PC complexation of arsenite in rice leaves reduces As translocation from leaves to grains, and implicate that manipulation of PC synthesis might mitigate As accumulation in rice grain |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Selenium concentration and speciation in biofortified flour and bread |
| Organisation | Premier Foods Group Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Controlled agronomic biofortification of wheat crops for flour and bread production could provide an appropriate strategy to increase the intake of bioavailable selenium. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Selenium concentration and speciation in biofortified flour and bread |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Controlled agronomic biofortification of wheat crops for flour and bread production could provide an appropriate strategy to increase the intake of bioavailable selenium. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Selenium concentration and speciation in biofortified flour and bread |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Controlled agronomic biofortification of wheat crops for flour and bread production could provide an appropriate strategy to increase the intake of bioavailable selenium. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Selenium concentration and speciation in biofortified flour and bread |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Controlled agronomic biofortification of wheat crops for flour and bread production could provide an appropriate strategy to increase the intake of bioavailable selenium. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Selenium in higher plants |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Department | Institute of Urban Environment |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | understanding mechanisms for biofortification and phytoremediation |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Selenium in higher plants |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Department | Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | understanding mechanisms for biofortification and phytoremediation |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Selenium in higher plants |
| Organisation | Colorado State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | understanding mechanisms for biofortification and phytoremediation |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Selenium in higher plants |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Department | Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | understanding mechanisms for biofortification and phytoremediation |
| Start Year | 2000 |
| Description | Sulphate transporters in wheat |
| Organisation | Nihon University |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | S fertilizer application has a marked impact on Mo and Se distribution and accumulation, which is at least partially a result of altered gene expression of the sulfate transporter family |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Sulphur nutrition on distribution of asparagine in wheat grain |
| Organisation | French National Institute of Agricultural Research |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | It was found that S deficiency resulted in disproportional increases in the asparagine contents of white flour fractions, implying that optimisation of yield in a conventional milling system is not an appropriate strategy for processing grain from sulphur-deficient crops. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | The role of root hairs in cadmium acquisition by barley |
| Organisation | China Agricultural University (CAU) |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | investigated the role of root hairs in Cd acquisition from soil: Found that root hairs contribute significantly to Cd uptake by barley. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | The role of root hairs in cadmium acquisition by barley |
| Organisation | University of Hohenheim |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Root hairs contribute significantly to Cd uptake by barley |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | The role of the rice aquaporin Lsi1 |
| Organisation | Okayama University |
| Department | Research Institute for Bioresources |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Lsi1 plays a role in arsenite efflux in rice roots exposed to arsenate. However, this pathway accounts for only 15?20% of the total efflux, suggesting the existence of other efflux transporters. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | The role of the rice aquaporin Lsi1 |
| Organisation | Xinjiang University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Lsi1 plays a role in arsenite efflux in rice roots exposed to arsenate. However, this pathway accounts for only 15?20% of the total efflux, suggesting the existence of other efflux transporters. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | mechanisms of zinc uptake by rice |
| Organisation | Cranfield University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We show ed with a mathematical model that, for realistic rates of secretion of the phytosiderophore deoxymugineic acid (DMA) by rice, and realistic parameters for the Zn- solubilizing effect of DMA in soil, solubilization and uptake by this mechanism is necessary and sufficient to account for the measured Zn uptake and the differences between genotypes |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | mechanisms of zinc uptake by rice |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We showed with a mathematical model that, for realistic rates of secretion of the phytosiderophore deoxymugineic acid (DMA) by rice, and realistic parameters for the Zn-solubilizing effect of DMA in soil, solubilization and uptake by this mechanism is necessary and sufficient to account for the measured Zn uptake and the differences between genotypes. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | mechanisms of zinc uptake by rice |
| Organisation | Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We showed with a mathematical model that, for realistic rates of secretion of the phytosiderophore deoxymugineic acid (DMA) b rice, and realistic parameters for the Zn-solubilizing effect of DMA in soil, solubilization and uptake by this mechanism is necessary and sufficient to account for the measured Zn uptake and the differences between genotypes |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | models of isotope fractionation processes of Cu and Zn |
| Organisation | Paris Diderot University |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | we clearly demonstrate that metal isotopes have great promise to identify the chemical processes controlling Cu and Zn uptake and translocation inplants and organisms in situ. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | models of isotope fractionation processes of Cu and Zn in plants |
| Organisation | French National Institute of Agricultural Research |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | demonstrated that metal isotopes have great promise to identify the chemical processes controlling Cu and Zn uptake and translocation in plants and organisms in situ. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | models of isotope fractionation processes of Cu and Zn in plants |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | we demonstrated that metal isotopes have great promise to identify the chemical processes controlling Cu and Zn uptake and translocation in plants and organisms in situ. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | models of isotope fractionation processes of Cu and Zn in plants |
| Organisation | Natural History Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | we demonstrated that metal isotopes have great promise to identify the chemical processes controlling Cu and Zn uptake and translocation in plants and organisms in situ. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | models of isotope fractionation processes of Cu and Zn in plants |
| Organisation | UMR Eco&Sols |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | demonstrated that metal isotopes have great promise to identify the chemical processes controlling Cu and Zn uptake and translocation in plants and organisms in situ. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | 3rd International Symposium on Trace Elements and Health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Annual Meeting of the Soil Science Society of America |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Cereal nutrients in decline |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Article in Stock and Land Magazine no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Fortify bread with Se to fight off cancer, urge experts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Newspaper article on line no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | How to beat depression with the right diet |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article in the Independent. about including Selenium in the diet www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/how-to-beat-depression no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| URL | http://www.cam.ac.uk |
| Description | Low selenium in the British Diet could be corrected with new fertilisers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | "Halting the Hidden Hunger Crisis"- British Science Festival 2009 no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | MINERAL-IMPROVED PRODUCTION FOR HEALTHY FOOD AND FEED |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited Keynote speaker, COST action FA0905, Lisbon no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Selenium could make Britain more healthy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article in The Telegraph online no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Should Se be added to our daily bread? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article in Science and Health Blog Mirror.co.uk no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Whats new in Zinc nutrition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Sewage sludge applications to soil can increase grain Zn concentrations for at least 2 to 8 years after application Article in New Ag International Newsletter no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
| URL | http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2013/9606.html |