Artichoke, Cynara scolymus L. (Asteraceae), a Mediterranean culture: plant and soil elementary composition, a comparison

Abstract

Samples of both Cynara scolymus and the relevant agricultural soil, taken along 7 different and successive stages of their growth cycle, have been submitted to AES/ICP, INAA, FRX and Kjeldahl elementary analysis. The results show that of 27 analysed elements the plant accumulates 4 (N,Na,P and W), rejects 21 elements (B,Mg,Ca,Sc,Ti,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Zn,Rb,Sr,Cs,La,Ce,Sm,Eu,Hf,Ta and Th), and accumulates or rejects 2 other (K and Br) depending on developmental stage. Comparisons with similar studies carried out on Capsicum annuum, the pepper plant, show that the "compositional plant behaviour" related to that of its soil is common to both plants as regards 21 out of the 27 studied elements (N,Mg,P,Ca,Sc,Ti,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Zn,Rb,Sr,Cs,La,Ce,Sm,Eu,Hf,Ta and Th), while it differs by only 6 elements (B,Na,K,Co, Br and W). We may conclude that, for most of the analyzed elements (21 out of 27), both plants accumulate or reject them in the same way, the same non-metals are accumulated and the same metals are rejected in both plants. Moreover, the "rooted plant" is the most physiologically active stage. Such results may be looked at as an example of ecophysiological similarity within the vegetal living matter, in spite of its morphological and taxonomical diversity.