Iron Heterogeneity in Soil and its Relation to its Uptake by Water Leaf (Talinum Triangulaire L.)

This study investigated the relationship between iron (Fe) heterogeneity in soil and Fe uptake by water leaf (Talinum triangulaire). A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with water leaf grown under three treatments; control (0mg/kg Fe added), homogeneous (1000mg/kg Fe added), and heterogeneous (simulated realistic heterogeneity) for six weeks after initial establishment in the nursery for four weeks). At harvest, plant samples were cut, washed, dried, milled into powder and analyzed for iron concentrations using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) Thermos Fisher Scientific Model 3000 ICE after acid digest by Nitric acid (HNO3). The mean root Fe concentrations of the control, homogeneous and heterogeneous treatments were 1263 ±154mg/kg, 1504 ±178mg/kg and 1393mg/kg ±140mg/kg respectively. The mean shoot Fe concentrations of the control, homogeneous and heterogeneous treatments were 904 ±174u mg/kg, 1401±117 mg/kg and 1045 ±95 mg/kg respectively. There was no statistically significant difference (p >0.005) in shoot and root Fe concentration between treatments. However, the homogeneous treatment was 0.19 times higher than the control and 0.07 times higher than the heterogeneous treatment.  Iron level in the roots was 0.35 times high as the control and 0.25 times higher than the heterogeneous treatment. The Concentration factors for the control, homogeneous, and heterogeneous treatments were 0.1118, 0.1498 and 0.1258 respectively. The similarity in concentration factor between treatments showed that it is an accumulator of Fe and has the affinity for Fe irrespective of the varied soil concentrations. These findings indicate that water leaf possesses mechanisms enabling efficient Fe acquisition from variable soil conditions. Overall, the study provides initial evidence that water leaf is resilient to variability in soil Fe distribution, holding implications for its improved cultivation. However, further research on the specific genes and processes governing iron mobilization and uptake in water leaf is recommended.