Seasonal variations in chromium and carbohydrate accumulation by Salvinia minima in presence or absence of mineral nutrients

GULTEMIRIAN MARÍA DE LOURDES; TRUJILLO NATALY; ROLANDI MARÍA LAURA; PRADO CAROLINA; ROSA MARIANA; PRADO FERNANDO E.; HILAL MIRNA

Congreso; 11th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology; 2015

The aim of this work was evaluate the absorption of chromium and soluble sugar content in the floating fern Salvinia minima grown in presence and absence of mineral salts during two seasons. Plants were collected in winter and spring (southern hemisphere) from a natural pond. Plants were grown either in distilled water or Hoagland solution (1:4) with and without 5 mg/L K2Cr2O7. Plant biomass, chromium and soluble sugars were quantified in both fronds and lacinias; conductivity and pH changes of the growth solutions were also measured.Regardless of the season and growth medium, chromium accumulation was always higher in lacinias than that fronds. In winter chromium absorption was similar for both solutions, but in spring a higher chromium uptake occurred in Hoagland-grown plants. Soluble sugars were higher in spring. In Cr-containing Hoagland solution the content of carbohydrates in lacinias decreased, but in fronds either increased or remained unchanged. In water-grown plants a different distribution pattern was observed. Conductivity and pH values increased in both solutions, especially in presence of chromium. Major seasonal variations were found at mineral content level. Cl-, SO42-, NO3-, PO43-, K+ and Ca2+ showed higher changes. Results show that S. minima has a high adaptability to survive and remove heavy metals from different environments.