Purpose
Calcium (Ca2+) is a major structural plant nutrient whose low mobility in the phloem causes deleterious nutritional disorders in non-transpiring organs. Since strontium (Sr2+) and Ca2+ share many chemical properties, Sr2+ is frequently used as a tracer to study Ca2+ cycles in ecosystems. However, the level of agreement between Sr2+ and Ca2+ distribution pattern in plants is debatable, and several studies have reported toxic effects of Sr2+. Therefore, we investigated Sr2+ and Ca2+ uptake rates and distribution pattern to determine how reliably Sr2+ can be used as a tracer of Ca2+ in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.).
Methods
We conducted six independent experiments of various duration: from a few hours to several weeks, in hydroponic and perlite substrate. We treated plants with either Ca2+ or Sr2+ at equivalent concentrations and monitored their accumulation in shoot and fruits.
Results
Under short-term exposure (hours), Ca2+ and Sr2+ uptake and distribution within the plant were comparable, while the long-term exposure (days and weeks) to 4 mM Sr2+ reduced transpiration and biomass accumulation. The toxic effect of Sr2+ was more prominent when growth conditions were favourable. Nonetheless, Sr2+ accumulated similarly to Ca2+ in shoot and fruit. Surprisingly, Sr2+ deposition in tomato fruit cell walls prevented blossom end rot (BER) to the same degree as Ca2+.
Conclusion
Sr2+ can credibly be used as a tracer of Ca2+ uptake and allocation in the short-term, making Sr2+ a powerful tool to study the factors governing Ca2+ allocation to plant organs, primarily fruit Ca2+ delivery.
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Posted 16 Mar, 2021
Invitations sent on 14 Mar, 2021
Received 12 Mar, 2021
On 08 Mar, 2021
On 08 Mar, 2021
On 07 Mar, 2021
Posted 16 Mar, 2021
Invitations sent on 14 Mar, 2021
Received 12 Mar, 2021
On 08 Mar, 2021
On 08 Mar, 2021
On 07 Mar, 2021
Purpose
Calcium (Ca2+) is a major structural plant nutrient whose low mobility in the phloem causes deleterious nutritional disorders in non-transpiring organs. Since strontium (Sr2+) and Ca2+ share many chemical properties, Sr2+ is frequently used as a tracer to study Ca2+ cycles in ecosystems. However, the level of agreement between Sr2+ and Ca2+ distribution pattern in plants is debatable, and several studies have reported toxic effects of Sr2+. Therefore, we investigated Sr2+ and Ca2+ uptake rates and distribution pattern to determine how reliably Sr2+ can be used as a tracer of Ca2+ in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.).
Methods
We conducted six independent experiments of various duration: from a few hours to several weeks, in hydroponic and perlite substrate. We treated plants with either Ca2+ or Sr2+ at equivalent concentrations and monitored their accumulation in shoot and fruits.
Results
Under short-term exposure (hours), Ca2+ and Sr2+ uptake and distribution within the plant were comparable, while the long-term exposure (days and weeks) to 4 mM Sr2+ reduced transpiration and biomass accumulation. The toxic effect of Sr2+ was more prominent when growth conditions were favourable. Nonetheless, Sr2+ accumulated similarly to Ca2+ in shoot and fruit. Surprisingly, Sr2+ deposition in tomato fruit cell walls prevented blossom end rot (BER) to the same degree as Ca2+.
Conclusion
Sr2+ can credibly be used as a tracer of Ca2+ uptake and allocation in the short-term, making Sr2+ a powerful tool to study the factors governing Ca2+ allocation to plant organs, primarily fruit Ca2+ delivery.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
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