Neutron Activation Analysis: A Novel Technique to Trace Nutrient Uptake in Carnivorous Plants

15.11.2006 - 01.10.2007
Forschungsförderungsprojekt
Carnivorous plants utilise animals to supplement their mineral nutrition. It still is a matter of debate which elements are absorbed from prey, and if the plants¿ need for minerals is satisfied from prey only. Neutron activation enables us to produce a wide range of highly active radioisotopes of a short half life period that can be used as isotope tracers for nutrient uptake. In a multidisciplinary cooperation between the Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research Unit/University of Vienna and the Atom Institute of the Austrian Universities, we want to introduce this technique for the research on carnivorous plants with the expectation to establish this as a novel tool in plant biology in future. In a series of preparing experiments we already tested the suitability of this method for our issue. We fed activated potassium to the Australian pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis and found the first direct evidence for potassium uptake from prey. Now we want to expand our investigation to other genera of carnivorous plants and to other elements, especially iron and manganese. The source and metabolism of these elements in carnivorous plants is not clearly understood so far, although both are essential for plants. It appears that the technique of neutron activation analysis combined with advanced cell biological methods yields excellent data and displays a comprehensive synopsis of ecological, physiological and bio-physical perspectives. Additional advantages are: (1) our technique works without radioactive waste (2) costs are relatively low (3) it is time saving (4) allows to analyse many activable elements and (5) yields a higher sensitivity than all approaches used so far. The introduction of this interdisciplinary method into live cell biology will therefore expand our general understanding of the physiology of trace element uptake in plants in addition to detailed information on the phenomenon of carnivory.

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Institut

Grant funds

  • Hochschuljubiläumsfonds der Stadt Wien (National) Anniversary Fund for Higher Education of the City of Vienna

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
Radiotracerradiotracer
Pflanzenphysiologieplant physiology
Neutronenaktivierungsanalyseneutron activation analysis
fleischfressende Pflanzencarnivorous plants

Publikationen