MANGANESE AND COPPER IN THE ROOT PLAQUE OF Phragmites australis (CAV.) TRIN. ex STEUDEL

Manganese and copper were found in the iron oxide plaque on roots of Phragmites australis collected at six sampling sites in southern Quebec and Ontario, Canada. Manganese concentration in the plaque, like that of Fe, is correlated with Mn-bound-to-carbonates fraction of the soil/sediment. The Fe:Mn ratio of the plaque resemble the same ratio of Fe:Mn-bound-to-carbonates in the substrate. The ratio changes with environmental conditions, increasing with percentage of water and decreasing with pH. Plants located near flowing water accumulate more Mn (and Fe) in the plaque than plants in other habitats through the summer. Copper concentration in the plaque than plants in other habitats through the summer. Copper concentration in the plaque is pH-dependent and is positively correlated with the amount of Fe and Mn of the plaque, but appears to be related more closely to Mn.