Accumulation capacity of nickel and zinc in yerba mate cultivated in soils with contrasting parent materials

Authors: ULBRICH, NAYARA - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center; MOTTA, ANTONIO - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center; MAGRI, EDERLAN - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center; Prior, Stephen - Steve; DE ALBUQUERQUE, CARLA - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center; GAVELAKI, FABIANA - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center; BARBOSA, JULIERME - Federal University Of Minas Gerais; WENDLING, IVAR - Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA); POGGERE, GIOVANA - Federal University Of Technology - Parana

Submitted to: Biological Trace Element Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2023
Publication Date: 2/23/2023
Citation: Ulbrich, N.C., Motta, A.C., Magri, E., Prior, S.A., De Albuquerque, C.G., Gavelaki, F., Barbosa, J.Z., Wendling, I., Poggere, G.C. 2023. Accumulation capacity of nickel and zinc in yerba mate cultivated in soils with contrasting parent materials. Biological Trace Element Research. 201:5468–5480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03593-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03593-4

Interpretive Summary: The wide variation in Ni and Zn levels noted in processed yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) or in leaf and branch tissues collected in the field, may be associated with soil parent material, genetic variation, management, and the wide nutrient acquisition capacity that is difficult to individualize at the field level. This study evaluate uniform yerba mate (clones) to accumulate Ni and Zn in leaves, branches, and roots when grown in containers using soils originating from common parent materials of southern Brazil. Yerba mate has a relatively high capacity to accumulate Ni and Zn in young tissue with the highest accumulation occurring in roots. Sandstone and rhyodacite derived soils were not able to supply sufficient Zn and Ni to seedlings, which confirms a general lack of Zn in many Brazilian soils. The response to Ni addition was unusual and requires more research to confirm actual responses under field conditions. Although yerba mate is not a hyperaccumulator, more work is needed to determine how Ni and Zn supply affects elements in commercial yerba mate products and consequent impacts to human nutrition and health.

Technical Abstract: Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hill.) has shown a relatively high capacity for metal absorption and accumulation under field conditions. To further evaluate the accumulation capacity of Ni and Zn, yerba mate clonal seedlings were grown in containers under five rates of Ni or Zn (0, 0.5, 2, 10, and 40 mg kg-1) with three soils originating from different parent material (basalt, rhyodacite, and sandstone). After 10 months, plants were harvested, divided into component parts (leaves, branches, and roots), and evaluated for 12 elements. Use of Zn and Ni enhanced seedling growth under rhyodacite- and sandstone-derived soils at the first application rate. Application of Zn and Ni resulted in linear increases based on Mehlich I extractions; recovery of Ni was smaller than Zn. Root Ni concentration increased from approximately 20 to 1000 mg kg-1 in rhyodacite-derived soil and from 20 to 400 mg kg-1 in basalt- and sandstone-derived soils; respective increases in leaf tissue were ~3 to 15 mg kg-1 and 3 to 10 mg kg-1. For Zn, maximum obtained values were close to 2000, 1000, and 800 mg kg-1 for roots, leaves, and branches for rhyodacite-derived soils, respectively. Corresponding values for basalt- and sandstone-derived soils were 500, 400, and 300 mg kg-1, respectively. Although yerba mate is not a hyperaccumulator, this species has a relatively high capacity to accumulate Ni and Zn in young tissue with the highest accumulation occurring in roots.