Understanding an unusually strong association of chromium and nickel in Scots pine wood

Abstract

Chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) are different from many other elements, having a strong and consistent association in the xylem of Scots pine. On average, one atom of Ni corresponds to 2–3 atoms of Cr. This association cannot be explained by the content of the elements in mobile chemical forms in the soil. This study examined possible explanations of the observed phenomenon. The research materials included soil samples in the research area and at the places of wood sampling in two populations of Scots pine. Chemical analysis was performed with the help of atomic emission spectral analysis. The results show no anomalies in Cr and Ni contents in the soils. Despite an even level of Cr and Ni, their variations among trees are quite wide. The association of Cr and Ni in xylem is reversed with respect to their content in mobile (bioavailable) forms. The association is consistent between the pine populations. Two hypotheses evaluated included: (1) a possible negative correlation between the rate of stem growth and the lignin content, and (2) an ability of Cr and Ni atoms to bond in the xylem. As of yet, no single plausible explanation can fully account for the observation. Disentangling this association will require more penetrating approaches such as electron microscopy and structural analysis.

Keywords

Dendrochemistry / Soil / Xylem / Chromium / Nickel / Atomic emission spectral analysis / Scots pine

References

[1] Bezkorovaynaya IN, Shabalina O, Shugaley LS. The main components of artificial forest biogeocenoses of a multi-year experiment. Cибиpcкий Лecнoй Жypнaл (Sib J for Sci), 2024, 3: 83-95

[2] Binda G, Di Iorio A, Monticelli D. The what, how, why, and when of dendrochemistry: (paleo)environmental information from the chemical analysis of tree rings. Sci Total Environ, 2021, 758: 143672

[3] Biryukov BP, Struchkov YT. Metal–metal bonds and covalent atomic radii of transition metals in their π-complexes and polynuclear carbonyls. Russ Chem Rev, 1970, 39(9): 789-798

[4] Brown PH, Welch RM, Cary EE. Nickel: a micronutrient essential for higher plants. Plant Physiol, 1987, 85(3): 801-803

[5] Canning CM, Laroque CP, Muir D. Critical analysis of the past, present, and future of dendrochemistry: a systematic literature review. Forests, 2023, 14(10): 1997

[6] Choudhary A, Mali S, Pandey K, Thorat SA, Kundu P, Vishal SS, Pandey GK, Zinta G. Long-distance trafficking of mineral elements from soil-to-seed under climate change impacts crop nutritional quality. Plant Cell Environ. 2026

[7] Cutter BE, Guyette RP. Anatomical, chemical, and ecological factors affecting tree species choice in dendrochemistry studies. J Environ Qual, 1993, 223611-619

[8] Das NK, Shoji T. Geometry, orbital interaction, and oxygen chemisorption properties of chromium-doped nickel clusters. J Phys Chem C, 2012, 116(24): 13353-13367

[9] Demakov YuP, Sheikina OV, Sharapov ES. Elemental composition of Scots pine wood, bark and needles in the Mari El Forests. Issues Forest Sci, 2024, 7(3): 1-85

[10] Frederikse HPR (1972) Section 9. Solid state physics. In: EG Dwight (ed) American institute of physics handbook, 3rd ed. Mc-Graw-Hill Book Company, New York, pp. 9-1–9-15.

[11] Gavrikov VL, Fertikov AI, Sharafutdinov RA, Vaganov EA. Early- and latewood vs. stem asymmetry: Which is more important for dendrochemistry in Scots pine?. Forests, 2025, 16(3): 493

[12] Golubkina N, Sheshnitsan S, Koshevarov A, Plotnikova U, Sosna E, Lapchenko V, Antoshkina M, Khlebosolova O, Polikarpova N, Todisco D, Caruso G. Bioavailable forms of heavy metals and Se in soil in the vicinity of the Pechenganikel smelting plant and the relationship with mineral composition and antioxidant status of biocrusts. Standards (Basel), 2025, 5428

[13] Hernández-Vargas O, Olvera-Vargas M, Figueroa-Rangel BL, Rodríguez-Robles U, Palomera-García C, Cuevas-Guzmán R. Two decades of dendrochemical studies: applications, methods, and results–a comprehensive systematic review. Dendrochronologia, 2025, 94126444

[14] Houle D, Tremblay S, Ouimet R. Foliar and wood chemistry of sugar maple along a gradient of soil acidity and stand health. Plant Soil, 2007, 3001173-183

[15] Kabata-Pendias A. Trace elements in soils and plants. 2010CRC Press

[16] Krutul D, Zielenkiewicz T, Radomski A, Zawadzki J, Antczak A, Drożdżek M, Makowski T. Metals accumulation in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood and bark affected with environmental pollution. Wood Res, 2017, 62(3): 353-364

[17] Leonelli G, Battipaglia G, Cherubini P, Morra Di Cella U, Pelfini M. Chemical elements and heavy metals in European larch tree rings from remote and polluted sites in the European Alps. Geogr Fis Din Quat, 2011, 34(2): 195-206

[18] Mantel S, Dondeyne S, Deckers S. World reference base for soil resources (WRB). Encyclopedia of soils in the environment. 2023Elsevier206-217

[19] Meychik N, Nikolaeva Y, Kushunina M, Yermakov I. Are the carboxyl groups of pectin polymers the only metal-binding sites in plant cell walls?. Plant Soil, 2014, 381(1): 25-34

[20] Nishida S, Tsuzuki C, Kato A, Aisu A, Yoshida J, Mizuno T. AtIRT1, the primary iron uptake transporter in the root, mediates excess nickel accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell Physiol, 2011, 52(8): 1433-1442

[21] Novaes E, Kirst M, Chiang V, Winter-Sederoff H, Sederoff R. Lignin and biomass: a negative correlation for wood formation and lignin content in trees. Plant Physiol, 2010, 154(2): 555-561

[22] Ortega-Rodriguez DR, Hevia A, Olmedo GM, Hornink B, Roig FA, Tomazello-Filho M, Sánchez-Salguero R, Santini L, Yáñez-Espinosa L. Wood formation mechanisms of Cedrela fissilis Vell. in extreme years: climatic, anatomical and chemical predictors. Dendrochronologia, 2025, 92: 126380

[23] Peterson DL, Anderson DR (1990) Content of chemical elements in tree rings of lodgepole pine and whitebark pine from a subalpine Sierra Nevada forest, Res. Paper PSW-200. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station: Berkely, CA, 9 p.

[24] R Core Team (2023) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. Available online: https://www.R-project.org/ (accessed on 9 September 2023).

[25] Shannon RD. Revised effective ionic radii and systematic studies of interatomic distances in halides and chalcogenides. Acta Crystallogr Sect A, 1976, 32(5): 751-767

[26] Shugalei LS. The Siberian afforestaton experiment: history, methodology, and problems. Tree species effects on soils: implications for global change. 2005Springer-Verlag257-268

[27] Singh B, Sherman DM, Gilkes RJ, Wells MA, Mosselmans JFW. Incorporation of Cr, Mn and Ni into goethite (α-FeOOH): mechanism from extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Clay Miner, 2002, 37(4): 639-649

[28] Strimzha TP, Medvedeva NN (2020) Geochemical aspect of human habitation in the city of Krasnoyarsk and its surroundings. Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, p. 218 (in Russian).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Northeast Forestry University