On the elemental composition estimation of some herbal species of calcareous steppes and its bioindication prospects

Abstract

On the territory of our country, in foreign Europe, in North America, in some regions there are outcrops calcareous rocks. The high endemism and the same of rare plant species concentration are characteristic features of such landscapes. The results of elemental composition primary assessment of aboveground and underground organs of three plant species from calcareous biotopes of Samara region are given. Three species were chosen for studies: obligate calcephite Gypsophila jusepczukii Ikonn., calcephilic Hedysarum grandiflorum Pall. (both included in the Red Book of Samara Region), Reseda lutea L., a ruderal species. For the quantitative analysis of the content of metals in the stems, leaves, flowers, and roots of these plants, the method of spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma was used. It was shown that the effective barrier function of roots in relation to most of the analyzed elements is characteristic of calcephilous (Hedysarum) and calcephytic (Gypsophila) plant species, but not for Reseda lutea. To a certain extent, the stem tissues play a barrier biogeochemical role in Reseda. A general biogeochemical feature of these species, especially pronounced for Reseda, is expressed in increased Se accumulation in aboveground organs.