Phytosiderophore-induced mobilization and uptake of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn by wheat plants grown on metal-enriched soils

- Fe-deficient wheat showed enhanced Zn, Cu and Ni concentrations in shoots on metal-rich soils.
- These increased metal concentrations were related to phytosiderophore exudation.
- Uptake of potentially toxic metals like Cd and Pb was not increased under iron-limited conditions.

We investigated to which extent phytosiderophores (PS), released by grasses for the acquisition of iron, solubilize other metals in contaminated soils, and how this affects metal mobilization and uptake in wheat plants. A plant-based bioassay ('RHIZOtest') and batch extraction scheme were carried out for assessing metal mobilisation in soil, PS exudation and metal accumulation in wheat. Increased PS exudation was observed in Fe-deficient wheat, leading to enhanced Zn, Cu, Mn and Ni concentrations in wheat shoots on some soils. In contrast, plant Cd and Pb concentrations were not affected. Likewise, in the batch experiment, strongly increased extractable Cu, Ni and Zn concentrations were observed, in particular when 100 or 1000 μM PS were added. Our results suggest that Fe deficiency can enhance the accumulation of some metals in shoots of grass species. Although our results indicate that the risk of enhanced accumulation of Cd and Pb in Fe deficient wheat shoots is rather small, further experiments conducted on soil for the complete vegetation period would be needed to confirm this observation.