Minerals and Plants

Research has shown that certain minerals are required by plants for normal growth and
development. The soil is the source of these minerals, which are absorbed by the plant with
the water from the soil. Even nitrogen, which is a gas in its elemental state, is normally
absorbed from the soil as nitrate ions. Some soils are notoriously deficient in micronutrients
and are therefore unable to support most plant life. So-called serpentine soils, for example,
are deficient in calcium, and only plants able to tolerate low levels of this mineral can
survive. In modern agriculture, mineral depletion of soils is a major concern, since harvesting
crops interrupts the recycling of nutrients back to the soil.

Mineral deficiencies can often be detected by specific symptoms such as chlorosis (loss of
chlorophyll resulting in yellow or white leaf tissue), necrosis (isolated dead patches),
anthocyanin formation (development of deep red pigmentation of leaves or stem), stunted
growth, and development of woody tissue in an herbaceous plant. Soils are most commonly
deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen-deficient plants exhibit many of the symptoms
just described. Leaves develop chlorosis; stems are short and slender, and anthocyanin
discoloration occurs on stems, petioles, and lower leaf surfaces. Phosphorus-deficient plants
are often stunted, with leaves turning a characteristic dark green, often with the
accumulation of anthocyanin. Typically, older leaves are affected first as the phosphorus is
mobilized to young growing tissue. Iron deficiency is characterized by chlorosis between
veins in young leaves.

Much of the research on nutrient deficiencies is based on growing plants hydroponically, that
is, in soilless liquid nutrient solutions. This technique allows researchers to create solutions
that selectively omit certain nutrients and then observe the resulting effects on the plants.
Hydroponics has applications beyond basic research since it facilitates the growing of
greenhouse vegetables during winter. Aeroponics, a technique in which plants are
suspended and the roots misted with a nutrient solution, is another method for growing
plants without soil.

While mineral deficiencies can limit the growth of plants, an overabundance of certain
minerals can be toxic and can also limit growth. Saline soils, which have high concentrations
of sodium chloride and other salts, limit plant growth, and research continues to focus on
developing salt-tolerant varieties of agricultural crops. Research has focused on the toxic
effects of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and aluminum; however, even
copper and zinc, which are essential elements, can become toxic in high concentrations.
Although most plants cannot survive in these soils, certain plants have the ability to tolerate
high levels of these minerals.

Scientists have known for some time that certain plants, called hyperaccumulators, can
concentrate minerals at levels a hundredfold or greater than normal. [■] A survey of known
hyperaccumulators identified that 75 percent of them amassed nickel, cobalt, copper, zinc,
manganese, lead, and cadmium are other minerals of choice. [■] Hyperaccumulators run the
entire range of the plant world. [■] They may be herbs, shrubs, or trees. [■] Many members
of the mustard family, spurge family, legume family, and grass family are top
hyperaccumulators. Many are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, where

Certain minerals are more likely to be accumulated in large quantities than others.
accumulation of high concentrations of metals may afford some protection against
plant-eating insects and microbial pathogens.

Only recently have investigators considered using these plants to clean up soil and waste
sites that have been contaminated by toxic levels of heavy metals–an environmentally
friendly approach known as phytoremediation. This scenario begins with the planting of
hyperaccumulating species in the target area, such as an abandoned mine or an irrigation
pond contaminated by runoff. Toxic minerals would first be absorbed by roots but later
relocated to the stem and leaves. A harvest of the shoots would remove the toxic
compounds off-site to be burned or composted to recover the metal for industrial uses. After
several years of cultivation and harvest, the site would be restored at a cost much lower than
the price of excavation and reburial, the standard practice for the remediation of
contaminated soils. For example, in field trials, the plant alpine pennycress removed zinc
and cadmium from soils near a zinc smelter, and Indian mustard, native to Pakistan and
India, has been effective in reducing levels of selenium salts by 50 percent in contaminated
soils.

Questions:

1. According to paragraph 1, what is true of plants that can grow in serpentine soil?
A. They absorb micronutrients unusually well.
B. They require far less calcium than most plants do.
C. They are able to absorb nitrogen in its elemental state.
D. They are typically crops raised for food.

2. The word “exhibit” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. fight off
B. show
C. cause
D. spread

3. According to paragraph 2, which of the following symptoms occurs in

phosphorus-deficient plants but not in plants deficient in nitrogen or iron?
A. Chlorosis on leaves
B. Change in leaf pigmentation to a dark shade of green
C. Short, stunted appearance of stems
D. Reddish pigmentation on the leaves or stem

4. According to paragraph 2, a symptom of iron deficiency is the presence in young leaves of

A. deep red discoloration between the veins
B. white or yellow tissue between the veins
C. dead spots between the veins
D. characteristic dark green veins

5. The word “facilitates” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. slows down
B. affects
C. makes easier
D. focuses on

6. According to paragraph 3, what is the advantage of hydroponics for research on nutrient

deficiencies in plants?

A. It allows researchers to control what nutrients a plant receives.

B. It allows researchers to observe the growth of a large number of plants simultaneously.
C. It is possible to directly observe the roots of plants.
D. It is unnecessary to keep misting plants with nutrient solutions.

7. The word “suspended” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. grown
B. protected
C. spread out
D. hung

8. Why does the author mention “herbs”, “shrubs”, and “trees”?

A. To provide examples of plant types that cannot tolerate high levels of harmful minerals.
B. To show why so many plants are hyperaccumulators.
C. To help explain why hyperaccumulators can be found in so many different places.
D. To emphasize that hyperaccumulators occur in a wide range of plant types.

9. The word “afford” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. offer
B. prevent
C. increase
D. removes

10. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted
sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave
out essential information.

A. Before considering phytoremediation, hyperaccumulating species of plants local to the

target area must be identified.

B. The investigation begins with an evaluation of toxic sites in the target area to determine
the extent of contamination.

C. The first step in phytoremediation is the planting of hyperaccumulating plants in the area
to be cleaned up.

D. Mines and irrigation ponds can be kept from becoming contaminated by planting
hyperaccumulating species in targeted areas.
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11. It can be inferred from paragraph 6 that compared with standard practices for
remediation of contaminated soils, phytoremediation.
A. does not allow for the use of the removed minerals for industrial purposes
B. can be faster to implement
C. is equally friendly to the environment
D. is less suitable for soils that need to be used within a short period of time

12. Why does the author mention “Indian mustard”?

A. To warn about possible risks involved in phytoremediation
B. To help illustrate the potential of phytoremediation
C. To show that hyperaccumulating plants grow in many regions of the world
D. To explain how zinc contamination can be reduced
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13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to
the passage. Where could the sentence best fit?
Certain minerals are more likely to be accumulated in large quantities than others.

14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided
below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the
most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in the summary
because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the
passage. This question is worth 2 points. Plants need to absorb certain minerals from the
soil in adequate quantities for normal growth and develop

A. Some plants are able to accumulate extremely high levels of certain minerals and thus
can be used to clean up soils contaminated with toxic levels of these minerals.

B. Though beneficial in lower levels, high levels of salts, other minerals, and heavy metals
can be harmful to plants.

C. When plants do not absorb sufficient amounts of essential minerals, characteristic

abnormalities result.

D. Because high concentrations of sodium chloride and other salts limit growth in most
plants, much research has been done in an effort to develop salt-tolerant agricultural crops.

E. Some plants can tolerate comparatively low levels of certain minerals, but such plants are
of little use for recycling nutrients back into depleted soils.

F. Mineral deficiencies in many plants can be cured by misting their roots with a nutrient
solution or by transferring the plants to a soilless nutrient solution.