Subcellular compartmentation of strontium and zinc in mulberry idioblasts in relation to phytoremediation potential

The cellular compartmentation of heavy metals was analyzed using mulberry leaves, in which CaCO3-forming idioblasts are situated in the epidermal layer. Germinated mulberry seedlings were grown on hydroponic culture medium containing strontium (Sr), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) with and without supplemental calcium (Ca). After ten weeks of growth, toxic effects of these metals were assessed by measuring shoot length and chlorophyll content of leaves. Sr and Cd treatment at a higher dose (4 mM for Sr, 25 μM for Cd) resulted in signs of toxicity, whereas no distinct phytotoxicity was observed at 500 μM Zn. Elemental mapping of leaves using an energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis system fitted to variable-pressure scanning electron microscope showed that Sr and Zn were preferentially accumulated in the idioblasts and Cd was not detected in any type of leaf cell. The deposition site of Sr was confined to cell wall sacs developing in idioblasts. The Sr sink capacity in leaves was more than 30 mg/g dry weight, which equaled the Ca sink capacity. Exposure of Sr + Ca led to the co-localization of Sr and Ca in the same cell wall sac, in which Ca and Sr deposition were each estimated to be 60–80 ng. The localization site of Zn was cell walls of a dome-shaped protrusion (cap) of idioblasts, together with silicon (Si) originating as a contaminant in tap water used for culturing. Mulberry idioblasts were unique in showing metal-dependent distribution to two subcellular sites (cell wall sac and cap region) of idioblasts. In conclusion, mulberry plant is a candidate for phytoremediation of radiostrontium because of their Sr-hyperaccumulating capacity with sufficient leaf biomass production.

► Subcellular compartmentation of Sr, Zn, Cd, Si, and Ca was analyzed in mulberry leaves using VP-SEM-EDX.
► Both Sr and Ca were co-localized in the cell wall sac that develops in epidermal idioblasts.
► The sink capacity of Sr and Ca was more than 3% in terms of leaf dry weight and was estimated to be 60–80 ng per idioblast.
► Co-localization of Zn and Si was observed in idioblast cap regions, which are seen as dome-like protrusions on the leaf surface, while Cd accumulation was not detected in any type of leaf tissue.