Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2011, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (10): 1061-1069.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.01061

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analyzing about characteristics of calcium content and mechanisms of high calcium adaptation of common pteridophyte in Maolan karst area of China

WANG Cheng-Yuan1,2,*(), WANG Shi-Jie1,**(), RONG Li3, LUO Xu-Qiang1,4   

  1. 1State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China
    2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3School of Geographic and Environmental Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
    4School of Geography and Tourism, Guizhou Normal College, Guiyang 550018, China
  • Received:2011-06-07 Accepted:2011-07-18 Online:2011-06-07 Published:2011-11-07
  • Contact: WANG Shi-Jie

Abstract:

Aims Our objective was to analyze the calcium absorption and distribution characteristics of pteridophyte species, and to determine their adaptation to high calcium.
Methods Eleven pteridophytes were collected from Maolan National Nature Reserve and the surrounding area. We analyzed their calcium absorption and distribution behavior by comparing the calcium content in each organ and the rhizosphere.
Important findings In acidic soil, calcium availability in the rhizosphere of Nephrolepis auriculata was much higher than that of other species. Because of low calcium content in acidic soil, the calcium content of calcifuge was significantly lower than that of exclusive calciphytes. Except for N. auriculata and Parathelypteris glanduligera, the calcium content in various organs of plants that lived in acidic soil were mature leaf > roots > young leaf, and the calcium content in various organs of plants that lived in calcareous soil were roots > mature leaf > young leaf. In addition, calcium content in various organs of Pteris cretica var. nervosa had differences between calcareous and acidic soils. Calcium content of exclusive calciphytes had significant interspecific differences. Results suggested that N. auriculata could meet its calcium needs by enriching and activating calcium in the rhizosphere. The calcium content in plants could be reflected by the calcium supply in the soil. In different soils, the calcium-content differences in various organs might be related to their adaptive behavior towards changes of soil calcium content. The demands for calcium of the five exclusive calciphytes species were disparate. When they encountered high calcium stress, their primary adaptation behaviors differed. Cyrtogonellum fraxinellum, Cyrtomium fortune and Pteris vittata had calciphilious features, but Adiantum capillus-veneris was a low calcium species. Key words calcareous soil;calcium content of plant;exclusive calciphytes;high calcium content adaptation

Key words: calcareous soil, calcium content of plant, exclusive calciphytes, high calcium content adaptation