Chromium and nickel in Pteridium aquilinum from environments with various levels of these metals

Our plain-English summary of Chromium and nickel in Pteridium aquilinum from environments with various levels of these metals, by K. Kubicka, A. Samecka-Cymerman, K. Kolon, et al (Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2015).

The study

• Authors: K. Kubicka, A. Samecka-Cymerman, K. Kolon, P. Kosiba, A.J. Kempers
• Journal: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
• Published: 2015;22(1):527-34
• Cited by: 8 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Pteridium aquilinum is a ubiquitous species considered to be one of the plants most resistant to metals. This fern meets the demands for a good bioindicator to improve environmental control. Therefore, it was of interest to survey the accumulation of Cr and Ni in the rhizome and fronds of this species collected in Lower Silesia (SW Poland) of serpentinite rich in Cr and Ni and granite poor in these metals. Additionally, concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured in granite and serpentinite parent rocks, soils, and in P. aquilinum (rhizome and fronds). The experiment was carried out with rhizomes of ferns from both types of soils placed in pots supplemented with 50, 100, and 250 mg kg(-1) of Cr or Ni or both elements together. At a concentration of 250 mg kg(-1) of Cr, Ni, or Cr + Ni, fronds (from granite or serpentinite origin) contained significantly higher Cr and Ni concentrations when both metals were supplied together. In the same concentration of 250 mg kg(-1) of Cr, Ni, or Cr + Ni, rhizomes (from granite or serpentinite origin) contained significantly higher Cr and Ni concentrations when both metals were supplied separately. The explanation of metal differences in the joint accumulation of Cr and Ni on the rhizome or frond level needs further investigation. The lack of difference in Cr and Ni concentration in the rhizome and fronds between experimental P. aquilinum collected from granite and serpentinite soils may probably indicate that the phenotypic plasticity of this species is very important in the adaptation to extreme environments.

In plain English

This study looked at chromium and nickel in bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) in Lower Silesia, south-west Poland. The authors collected rock, soil and fern samples at 22 sites: 11 on granite and 11 on serpentinite. Every element they measured was significantly lower in granite rock than in serpentinite rock. In a glasshouse experiment, fern rhizomes from both kinds of site were grown for 20 weeks in potting soil. The soil was given 0, 50, 100 or 250 mg per kg of chromium (as potassium dichromate) or nickel (as nickel chloride), either separately or together. Ferns from the two kinds of site did not differ in chromium or nickel content, except for chromium in fronds, which was significantly higher in serpentinite ferns. At 250 mg per kg, rhizomes held significantly more chromium and nickel when the metals were given separately. Fronds held more when the metals were given together. The authors concluded that the lack of difference probably shows that this species' adaptability matters for survival in extreme environments. They said further investigation is needed to explain the differences.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Field survey of rocks, soils and ferns, plus a glasshouse pot experiment on plants
• Who was studied: Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), with rock and soil, from 22 sites in Lower Silesia, Poland (11 on granite, 11 on serpentinite). Rhizomes from 3 granite and 3 serpentinite sites were used in the experiment.
• Exposure: Chromium (hexavalent, as K2Cr2O7) and nickel (as NiCl2) added to potting soil at 0, 50, 100 and 250 mg/kg, separately or combined, for 20 weeks. No asbestos exposure was studied.
• Main results:
  • All elements measured were significantly lower in granite rock than in serpentinite rock
  • Ferns from serpentinite soils and the experimental potted ferns had significantly higher chromium and nickel in the rhizome than in the fronds
  • In the experiment, ferns from serpentinite and granite sites did not differ in nickel or chromium in rhizomes or fronds, across all treatments
  • The exception was chromium in fronds, which was significantly higher in serpentinite ferns than in granite ferns
  • At 250 mg/kg, fronds (granite and serpentinite) had significantly higher chromium and nickel when both metals were given together
  • At 250 mg/kg, rhizomes (granite and serpentinite) had significantly higher chromium and nickel when the metals were given separately
  • Nickel in fronds was at least twice as high as chromium
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the lack of difference between granite and serpentinite ferns probably indicates that the species' phenotypic plasticity is very important for adapting to extreme environments and probably helps it survive at contaminated sites.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors state that the differences in metal accumulation between rhizomes and fronds are not yet explained and need further investigation

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Chrysotile.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Serpentinite.

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