Relationships between carboxylate-based nutrient-acquisition strategies, phosphorus-nutritional status and rare earth element accumulation in plants

We explored how phosphorus (P) availability influences accumulation of rare earth elements (REE) in plant species with different P-acquisition strategies beyond the commonly REE-phosphate precipitation. Two P-efficient carboxylate-releasing lupin (Lupinus albus, and L. cosentinii) four less carboxylate release under P-deficiency (Triticum aestivum, Brassica napus, Pisum sativum, Cicer arietinum), were cultivated a split-root system on two sand types. Phosphorus was controlled one root side by watering plants 100 μM P or 0 solutions. Carboxylate changes pH measured both sides. Concentrations nutrients, cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), light REE (LREE: La–Eu), heavy (HREE: Gd–Lu, including Y) roots shoots analyzed ICP-MS. P-deficient T. B. napus C. arietinum did not respond elevated release. These accumulated more when supply low higher concentrations proportional to declining growth. However, P. albus cosentinii low. Plants that strongly acidified rhizosphere released quantities dicarboxylates (with LREE/HREE ratios) than tricarboxylates. Our findings suggest depended acidification, concert amount composition carboxylates determining exclusion REE-carboxylate complexes. Leaf signatures may offer promising ionomics screening tool for into rhizosphere.