Gallium for Plants: Oxygen Disposal?
Gallium (Ga)
For the plant – oxygen utilization?
Although some studies have described the beneficial effect of gallium on the growth of microorganisms (in particular, the black mold Aspergillus niger Tiegh., Trichocomaceae), there is insufficient data to prove the vital necessity or toxicity of gallium for plants.
There are indications of the role of gallium in oxygen utilization in plant tissues.
However, gallium is usually present in plant tissues, with concentrations ranging from 3–30 mg/kg (in ash) in indigenous species of the USA and 0.02–5.5 mg/kg dry weight in herbaceous plants of the CIS countries.
Gallium is generally poorly absorbed by the root system of plants. It is distributed fairly evenly among the organs of plants, especially in those from flat dry steppe and semi-desert regions. An increased Ga/Al ratio in herbaceous plants compared to this indicator in the soils where they grow may indicate selectivity in gallium absorption by plants.
Gallium concentrators are lichens (2.2–60 mg/kg dry weight) and mosses (2.7–30 mg/kg dry weight).
Medicinal plants containing gallium:
• valerian Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianaceae (rhizome with roots);
• lesser duckweed Lemna minor L., Araceae (whole plant);
• fragrant callisia (= golden mustache) Callisia fragrans (Lindl.) Woods., Commelinaceae (stems, leaves).
• valerian Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianaceae (rhizome with roots);
• lesser duckweed Lemna minor L., Araceae (whole plant);
• fragrant callisia (= golden mustache) Callisia fragrans (Lindl.) Woods., Commelinaceae (stems, leaves).