Abstract
The discovery of the nickel-rich latex of the New Caledonian endemic tree Pycnandra acuminata introduced the term ‘hyperaccumulator’ and gave rise to a new field of research. This then instigated a global quest for these unusual hyperaccumulator plants, even while the underlying mechanisms of nickel acquisition, transport, and internal elemental distribution remained unknown for this original laticifer-bearing hyperaccumulator plant. Here we reveal for the first time the distribution of nickel-filled laticifers in the different plant organs of P. acuminata. The pressurised nickel laticifers were imaged multimodally with a combination of synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microscopy, microtomography (XRF-μCT) and synchrotron X-ray phase contrast imaging microtomography (PCI-μCT). These advanced synchrotron methodologies allowed for complimentary non-invasive reconstructions of an in-situ model of the laticiferous system in this species. The data shows the distribution of the nickel-rich laticifers within whole plant tissues from roots to apical tip, thus suggesting nickel trafficking in the laticifer network. The extraordinary concentration of nickel within P. acuminata laticifers functions as an effective natural tracer for XRF-μCT and PCI-μCT to probe the structure and organization of these cells, thereby permitting insights into the development and physiological functioning of this unique duct system.
Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record; open copy licensed cc-by. Read at the source ↗
The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.
Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Nickel-rich laticifers were found from roots to the apical tip.
- Organ / stage
- whole plant tissues from roots to apical tipe0
- Outcome
- distribution of the nickel-rich laticiferse0
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“The data shows the distribution of the nickel-rich laticifers within whole plant tissues from roots to apical tip”
Claim · model-written summary
The observed laticifer distribution suggests nickel trafficking in the network.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e0“thus suggesting nickel trafficking in the laticifer network”
Claim · model-written summary
Synchrotron methods permitted non-invasive reconstruction of the laticifer system.
- Outcome
- non-invasive reconstructionse0
Not reportedTaxonComparatorValue
Verbatim
e0“These advanced synchrotron methodologies allowed for complimentary non-invasive reconstructions of an in-situ model of the laticiferous system in this species”
Claim · model-written summary
High nickel concentration in laticifers served as a natural imaging tracer.
- Taxon
- P. acuminata
Pycnandra acuminatae0 - Outcome
- effective natural tracere0
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The extraordinary concentration of nickel within P. acuminata laticifers functions as an effective natural tracer for XRF-μCT and PCI-μCT to probe the structure and organization of these cells”