On the elemental composition of the Mediterranean euhalophyte Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve (Chenopodiaceae) from saline habitats in Spain (Huelva, Toledo and Zamora).

A complete survey is presented on the inorganic composition of the euhalophyte annual succulent species Salicornia patula (Chenopodiaceae), including materials from the Iberian Peninsula, littoral-coastal Tinto River basin areas (SW Spain: Huelva province), and mainland territories (NW and central Spain: Zamora and Toledo provinces). The aim of this contribution is to characterize the elemental composition of the selected populations and their soils and compare the relationship between them and the macro- and micronutrient plant intake; all these nutrients may allow this species to be considered an edible plant. Using analytical techniques such as ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), our results revealed high values of Na and K followed by Ca, Mg, Fe and Sr in stems.

Silicon in Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv: content, distribution, and ultrastructure.

Silicon concentration, distribution, and ultrastructure of silicon deposits in the Poaceae Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.

Localization of nickel in tissues of Streptanthus polygaloides Gray (Cruciferae) and endemic nickel hyperaccumulators from California.

The genus Streptanthus Nutt. is one of the most important indicators of ultramafic floras in western North America. This genus contains taxa that are endemic or tolerant of ultramafic soils.

Metal uptake and distribution in cultured seedlings of Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae) from the Río Tinto (Huelva, Spain).

Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae) is a micro-nano phanerophyte that grows in the riverbanks of the Río Tinto basin (Southwest Iberian Peninsula). The waters and soils of the Río Tinto area are highly acidic and have high concentrations of heavy metals.

An improved semiquantitative method for elemental analysis of plants using inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

A semiquantitative ICP-MS method suitable for evaluating metal content in plants exposed to high metal concentrations is described. The methodology which has been tested using different plant reference material is able, in only a few minutes, to obtain qualitative and quantitative information from the sample. Recoveries close to 100% were obtained for more than half of the referenced elements with an RSD <10%, thus avoiding the generation of a calibration line for each of the elements to be analyzed.

Metal accumulation screening of the Río Tinto flora (Huelva, Spain).

Río Tinto (Huelva, Spain) is located in one of the most important mining regions in the world. Its soils are characterized by their extreme acidity and elevated concentrations of heavy metals. Due to these characteristics, the Tinto ecosystem is considered unique and an ideal location to study biological adaptations to this type of habitat.

Surface geochemistry of soils associated to the Tinto River (Huelva, Spain).

The Tinto River (Iberian Pyritic Belt) is a unique ecosystem characterized by extreme acidity and abnormally high concentrations of heavy metals in water, sediments and alluvium, with high microbial diversity and low plant diversity. The low pH value, a direct consequence of the high amount of Fe and S derived from the bedrock, promotes the dispersion of heavy metals. Less mobile elements (Fe, As, Pb, Ag and Ti) show the highest concentrations in the mid stretches of the river while easily mobile metals (Cu, Zn and Cd) accumulate in the estuarine sediments.