Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 675-677 (2014) pp 140-144 Submitted: 21.08.

2014
Online available since 2014/Oct/08 at www.scientific.net Accepted: 21.08.2014
© (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.675-677.140

The analysis of morphology characteristics of iron plaque on the roots

of Carex cinerascens

Chunying Liu1,2, a, Xiaofeng Gong1,b and Juyun Yang1,c

1
School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031,
China
2
School of the Tourism and Urban Management, JiangXi University of Finance and Economics,
Nanchang 330032, China
a
jxcdlcy@126.com, bxfgong@ncu.edu.cn, c525376941@qq.com

；
Keywords: Poyang Lake wetland Iron plaque; Characteristics; Carex cinerascens

Abstract: The physico-chemical properties of iron plaques formed on the root surfaces of Cmarex
cinerascens under laboratory conditions were determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy
(SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) analysis. Iron plaques were present as an
amorphous coating on root surfaces with an uneven distribution. EDS analysis showed that iron
plaques were composed of Fe , Si, Al and lesser amounts of Ca in plaqued root surfaces.

Introduction
The formation of iron plaque is considered to be an important mechanism for adapting to
follding and other environmental stresses. Iron plaque is a reddish-brown precipitation of iron
oxide/hydroxide and amorphous colloidal substances which form on the root surfaces of aquatic
plants and rice[1-6]. Iron plaque has numerous environmental and ecological functions, a number of
studies have been conducted on the formation of iron plaque and its effect on metals uptake in
recent years[7]. Many wetland plants can form iron plaque on the root surfaces when submerged in
water, such as Oryza sativ L.[6,8], Typha latifolia [9,10], Phragmites communis[11], willow [12]，
mangrove[13]. But few studies focused on the plants from natural wetlands, especially lake wetlands.
A number of authors had attempted to characterize iron plaques that formed on the root
surfaces of wetland plants in terms of both the chemistry/mineralogy and structure[1-4]. Iron plaque
are generally seen as an irregular porous coating on the root surfaces[4,14]. It composed of
lepidocrocite, goethite and ferric phosphate[1,4]. The use of differing techniques, plant species and
experiment conditions have led to conflicting information. We took the dominant species *Carex
cinerascens) from Poyang Lake wetland as the research objects, using scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) and electron dispersive spectrometry (EDS), analyzed the morphology
characteristics of iron plaque and the distribution of elements in iron plaque on the root surface of
Carex cinerascens.

Experimental
The test soil was collected from 0-30 cm depth in Poyang Lake of Jiangxi Province, China.
The soil was sieved through a 2 mm sieve after being air-dried. It had a pH of 6.8 (soil: distilled
water =1:2), organic matter content of 27.6 g kg-1, Eh of 51.34 and iron ,and lead contents of 89.81
mg kg-1 and 103.5 mg kg-1. The test plant (Carex cinerascens) was stored in plastic bags in a cooler
and then transported to the laboratory, precultured for 3 weeks in the nutrient solution [15]. The
experiment was conducted when Carex cinerascens growed new roots.

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 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 675-677 141

One kilogram of soil was placed in each pot (18 cm in diameter and 15 cm in height). The soil
had been previously treated with treatments of 0 and 100 mg kg-1Pb (Pb(NO3)2) and waterlogged
(2-3cm ) for 15 days. These treatments were called Pb0 and Pb100. 0 and 100 mg kg-1 Fe
( FeSO4·7H2O) were added when uniform seedlings were transplanted into plastic pots, these
treatments were called Fe0 and Fe100. At the same time, 0.5 g of urea (containing 46% N) and 0.5 g
of K2HPO4·3H2O were applied to each pot before plants transplant. Each treatment was replicated
three times. The pots were arranged randomly, and their position was rotated regularly to ensure
uniform conditions under open-air conditions. Water was kept about 2-3 cm above the soil surface
for 45 days.
At the end of the experiment (45 days) all plants were harvested, divided into roots and shoots
and rinsed thoroughly in distilled water to remove dust contaminating the surface. A small
subsample of roots from each treatment was removed, freeze-dried. The morphology of sample was
observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM, FEI, Nova Nano SEM450). Distribution of the
elements in root plaque was analyzed using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS,
OXFORD X-MAX20 INCA-250).

Results and Discussion

Morphology
Throughout the experiment all plants showed similar growth and development of both roots
and shoots. At harvest, macroscopic reddish brown root plaque was observed around the roots
Morphologies of plaqued root and unplaqued root were apparently distinguished by textural
differences (Fig.1A,B). Figure. 1A,C,D showed a section of the plaqued root surface. It was evident
that iron plaque was present as an amorphous coating which followed the contours of the cells on
the root surfaces. The coating was not uniform and plaque deposits were absent from large areas of
the root surface. Figure.1B showed a section of unplaqued root surface, the epidermal cells were
clearly visible and were no evidence of damage. The results of SEM observation achieved in this
study provided support for the model of iron plaque formation proposed by[11], in which the iron
was oxidized on the external surface of the cell wall of the intact epidermal cells. But iron plaque on
the roots of Cattail root could penetrate into the root exodermis within about 3 layers of cells in
thickness parts[5]. Iron plaque on the roots of Juncus bulbosus accumulated in the rhizodermis,
exodermis and endodermis, whereas cortex and parenchyma regions exhibited lower iron plaque[16].
Researches showed that the deposition pattern of iron plaque different from plants[1,2].

Fig.1 Scanning electron micrographs of iron plaque formed on roots of Carex cinerascens grown in pot experiment. A:
Fe100Pb0 treatment, plaqued area; B: Fe100Pb0 treatment, unplaqued area; C: Fe0Pb100 treatment, plaqued area; D:
Fe100Pb100 treatment, plaqued area. IP: iron plaque
142 Environmental Technology and Resource Utilization II

Chemical composition
The plaques formed in the presence of Fe had a very specific chemical signature and were
composed of Fe, Si, Al, together with lesser amounts of Ca (Fig.2). The weight percentage of Fe in
plaqued root reached more than one third, iron plaques with Fe addition appeared loose. However,
iron plaques with Fe addition was dense and showed a clear physical interface at the root surface.
The weight percentage of Fe was 38.09% in plaqued root and 1.02% in unplaqued root. The weight
percentage of Fe was 18.78% in plaqued root without Fe addition, and the weight percentage of Fe
was 39.86% in plaqued root with Fe addition. The results was similar with Batty et al.[16]. But
Hupfer and Dollan[17]reported that Fe, Cu, P, Si, and Mn were detected in P.crispus root plaque by
EDX. Mi et al.18 found root plaque on P. crispus contained Si, P, Ca, Fe, Mn, which was different
than in our work. The difference in Fe nutrient levels, root surface area, and root oxygen release
ability could result in different characteristics of root plaque[19,20]. Mi et al.[18] revealed that different
pH, organic matter, and main nutrients of sediment could lead to the obvious differences of
elements and contents enriched in P. crispus root plaque. The pH of the environment was regarded
as one of the important factors in the formation of iron plaque and controlling uptake of metals[21].
The root plaque of P.crispus planted in the sediment with higher calcium content of Lake Yuehu
was rich in Fe, Si, P and Ca. Due to oxygen secretion by plant roots, the root plaque has more
amount of Ca3(PO4)2 18. The critical redox Eh of Mn(Ⅳ)/Mn(Ⅱ) (+300 ～+700mv) is much higher
than that of Fe(Ⅲ)/Fe(Ⅱ) (+300～-100mv). Usually, Fe2+ in the sediment is easier to be oxidized
than Mn2+ in roots. However, it makes great difference if sediment is in low Eh condition. As it is
shown in our experiment results, the Mn was not detected, once again proving that root plaque
formed in the sediment is iron plaque. Therefore, the distribution of elements in iron plaque on roots
was affected by plant species and growth environment.

Fig.2 Energy spectrum of iron plaque formed on roots of Carex cinerascens grown in pot experiment. A: Fe100Pb0
treatment, plaqued area; B: Fe100Pb0 treatment, unplaqued area ; C: Fe0Pb100 treatment, plaqued area; D:
Fe100Pb100 treatment, plaqued area.
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 675-677 143

Conclusions
In summary, the iron plaque on the root surfaces of Carex cinerascens had a definite zonation
over the root starting approx 1 cm behind the root tip and darkening with distance from the tip. iron
plaque was present as an amorphous coating which followed the contours of the cells on the root
surfaces, and could be distinguished by textural differences from the unplaqued root. EDS analysis
revealed that the plaques formed in the presence of Fe were composed of Fe, Si, Al and lesser
amounts of Ca. Fe additions contributed to the formation of iron plaque on root surfaces of Carex
cinerascens, the weight percentage of Fe in plaqued root reached more than one third.

Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21067008),
and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41261097).

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10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.675-677

The Analysis of Morphology Characteristics of Iron Plaque on the Roots of Carex cinerascens
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.675-677.140

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