Abstract Detail

Physiological Section

Stanfield, Ryan [1], Ewers, Frank [2], Bobich, Edward [3], Bozak , Kristen [1].

Methods for Testing the Presence of Cadmium in Cystoliths of Ruellia tuberosa.

The tropical herb Ruelliatuberosa was subjected to various concentrations of cadmium to determine if it's calcium carbonate cystoliths are able to sequester heavy metals. Seeds of R.tuberosa were grown on standard tissue culture media for two weeks, then transferred to cadmium infused media and left to grow for an additional two weeks. Tissue culture media contained standard nutrient concentrations with the addition of 1mg/l of the cytokinin Benzyl Adenine Purine (BAP) as well as 1mg/ml of the auxin Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA). As a control, another set of R. tuberosa seeds were transferred to the standard tissue culture media after two weeks of growth, instead of the cadmium media. Cystoliths were then separated from leaves by blending in absolute ethanol, then the blended solution was strained through cheesecloth. The heavier cystoliths descended to the bottom of the collecting flask, which allowed forthe removal, by pipette, of the lighter dissolved leaf solution. The captured cystoliths and dissolved leaf solutions were then sent to California State University, Long Beach for qualitative confirmation of cadmium, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICP-MS).

Broader Impacts:

1 - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Biology, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA
2 - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Department Of Plant Biology, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA
3 - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, 3801 W. Temple AVE, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA

Keywords:
cystoliths
research methods
heavy metal storage.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PPS002
Abstract ID:652