Manganese Tolerance of Aloe greatheadii Schönland var. davyana (Schönland) Glen & D.S.Hardy (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) on Ultramafic-Peralkaline Outcrops, South Africa

Aloe greatheadii var. davyana demonstrates remarkable tolerance to manganese (Mn) without being a hyperaccumulator, with leaf tissue concentrations reaching up to 855 µg g⁻¹ on wehrlite substrates in the Vredefort Dome's ultramafic-peralkaline outcrops. Unlike other metals, Mn uptake is influenced more by soil pH, electric conductivity, and potassium levels than by available soil Mn. The study analyzed eight rock outcrops dominated by aloes to assess metal preferences and accumulation, finding that most species exclude metals, with only Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn detected in leaf tissue. This suggests a specific adaptation to ultramafic-peralkaline environments, offering insights into plant-metal interactions in extreme habitats.

Siebert, S. J., Steytler, J., Boneschans, R. B., Siebert, F., & Coetzee, M. S. (2018). Manganese Tolerance of Aloe greatheadii Schönland var. davyana (Schönland) Glen & D.S.Hardy (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae) on Ultramafic-Peralkaline Outcrops, South Africa. Haseltonia, 2018(25), 91. https://doi.org/10.2985/026.025.0108