Phylogenetic trends in Ni-accumulating plants
Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: The extraordinary uptake of nickel, reaching concentrations of 0.1-5.0% by mass, about 1000 times greater than those usually
found in flowering plants, is considered as hyperaccumulation.
Between 1948 and 1993, about 190 plant species growing on Ni-rich
serpentine soils derived from ultramafic rocks were reported as
hyperaccumulators of nickel in various parts of the world. Since
1993, 131 new Ni-hyperaccumulating plants have been detected in
the relatively large, ultramafic flora of Cuba, which contains 920
endemic species, all strictly confined to the serpentine areas.
Comparative taxonomic studies of the 320 known hyperaccumulators
and their relations to non-accumulator serpentine floras
has permitted the following observations: hyperaccumulation is
concentrated in the dicotyledons; there is a large concentration of
hyperaccumulators in Cuba; hyperaccumulation takes more than
1 million years to evolve; nickel concentration does not correlate
with accumulation of aromatic substances and volatile oils, is
sometimes strongly correlated with infrageneric units, is lacking in
groups with a high alkaloid content, is negatively correlated with
groups occurring on nutrient-poor soils, and with those manifesting
a climbing habit.
Source: South African Journal of Science
Author: A. Borhidi
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2473002169