Abstract
After “natural” phytotoxicity from Al or Mn in strongly acidic soil, Zn phytotoxicity is the most extensive microelement phytotoxicity, far more important than Cu, Ni, Co, Cd, or other metals. Zn has been extensively dispersed, and has reached phytotoxic concentrations in many soils due to anthropic contamination from many sources (fertilizers, pesticides, manures, sewage sludges, smelters, incinerators, mines, galvanized products). As soil pH falls, Zn solubility and uptake increase and potential for phytotoxicity increases. When plant leaves reach about 300–1000 mg Zn/kg DW (typical phytotoxic level is 500 mg/kg DW in diagnostic leaves), yield is reduced. At least in acidic soils, phytotoxicity is indicated by Zn-induced Fe-deficiency-chlorosis.
The physiology of Zn phytotoxicity in leaves is complicated, resulting from Zn interference in chlorophyll biosynthesis, and other biochemical reactions. In acidic soils, Zn usually causes severe Fe-deficiency chlorosis in dicots. Crops such as lettuce, mustard, and beet are highly susceptible to excessive soil Zn. In strongly acidic soils, grasses are usually much more Zn tolerant than dicots. However, in neutral or alkaline soils, Poaceae species are more sensitive to soil Zn than are dicots, apparently due to the interference of Zn in phytosiderophore function. Zn and other strongly chelated metal ions are able to displace Fe from mugineic acid and cause severe phytotoxicity. The natural increased secretion of phytosiderophores at alkaline pH increases the dissolved Zn in the soil, increases convective and diffusive movement of Zn to the root, and causes relatively greater susceptibility to soil Zn in grasses than other species.
Plant tolerance of Zn is an inheritable physiological property in many species. “Ecotypic” tolerance to Zn has been observed as soon as 20 years after Zn contamination of acidic soils. Highly Zn-tolerant individuals exist in wild type seed for these species. Some species tolerate soil Zn by excluding Zn by the roots (e.g., ‘Merlin’ red fescue [Festuca rubra L.]). Others tolerate higher foliar concentrations of Zn. Still others transport Zn rapidly to the shoots, and tolerate very high foliar Zn (up to 40,000 mg/kg DW in alpine pennycress [Thlaspi caerulescens J.and C. Presl.]). Compartmentalization in the vacuole and strong chelation (by malate, citrate, glutathione and possibly phytochelatins) in the cytoplasm apparently provide the high tolerance seen in most tolerant genotypes. Researchers are presently studying Zn and Cd metabolism in species such as Thlaspi in order to develop a Phyto-Remediation crop which can be used to “depollute” contaminated soils, allowing the shoot Zn to be recycled as an ore.
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Chaney, R.L. (1993). Zinc Phytotoxicity. In: Robson, A.D. (eds) Zinc in Soils and Plants. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 55. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0878-2_10
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