Nickel hyperaccumulation in New Caledonian Hybanthus (Violaceae) and occurrence of nickel-rich phloem in Hybanthus austrocaledonicus.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Hybanthus austrocaledonicus (Violaceae) is a nickel (Ni) hyperaccumulator endemic to New Caledonia. One of the specimens stored at the local herbarium had a strip of bark with a remarkably green phloem tissue attached to the sheet containing over 4 wt% Ni. This study aimed to collect field samples from the original H. austrocaledonicus locality to confirm the nature of the green 'nickel-rich phloem' in this taxon and to systematically assess the occurrence of Ni hyperaccumulation in H. austrocaledonicus and Hybanthus caledonicus populations.

Methods

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy scanning of all collections of the genus Hybanthus (236 specimens) was undertaken at the Herbarium of New Caledonia to reveal incidences of Ni accumulation in populations of H.

SUBMITTER: Paul ALD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7539534 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature