Cadmium Accumulation and Translocation in Four Emergent Wetland Species

Emergent wetland plant species may exhibit different capacity for phytoremediation when used in constructed wetlands. To evaluate cadmium (Cd) remediation capacity of four emergent wetland species [Baumea juncea (R.Br.) Palla, Baumea articulata (R.Br.) S.T. Blake, Schoenoplectus validus (M.Vahl) A. & D.Löve, and Juncus subsecundus N.A. Wakef.], a glasshouse experiment was conducted in hydroponics to investigate the effects of Cd (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg L^?1) on plant growth and Cd uptake and translocation as well as uptake of other nutrients after 14 days. The relative growth rates of the three species changed little in various Cd treatments, but was severely inhibited for B. juncea at 20 mg Cd per liter treatment. Hence, the Cd tolerance index (root length in Cd treatment vs. control) was significantly lower in B. juncea compared to other species. Among the species, the highest concentration of Cd was in the roots of J. subsecundus, followed by S. validus, B. articulata, and B. juncea, while the lowest concentration of Cd was in the S. validus shoots. Of all the species, J. subsecundus had the highest bioconcentration factor (BCF) in shoots, whereas S. validus and B. juncea had the lowest BCF in rhizomes and roots, respectively. The translocation factor was significantly lower in S. validus compared to the other species. J. subsecundus had a higher Cd accumulation rate than the other species regardless of the Cd supply. The lowest allocation of Cd in shoots was recorded for S. validus and in roots for B. juncea. The concentrations of other elements (P, S, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn) in shoots decreased with Cd additions, but the interactions between Cd and other elements in roots varied with the different species. These results indicate that the four wetland species have good tolerance to Cd stress (except B. juncea at high Cd exposure), varying in Cd accumulation and translocation in tissues. These properties need to be taken into account when selecting species for wetlands constructed for phytoremediation.     

重金属污染土壤的植物修复研究Ⅲ.金属富集植物Brassica juncea对锌镉的吸收和积累

采用温室盆栽试验研究了印度芥菜对土壤中锌镉污染的忍耐、积累能力 ,以检验这种植物修复Zn、Cd污染土壤的可能性及其潜力。在加入Zn 5 0 0和 1 0 0 0mgkg- 1 的土壤中 ,印度芥菜生长 66天后 ,叶片中积累Zn的平均浓度分别达 2 80和 662mgkg- 1 ,地上部带走的Zn分别为每盆 2 1 95和 341 2 μg。在加入Cd 2 0 0mgkg- 1 的土壤中生长的印度芥菜 ,叶片中积累Cd浓度为 1 61mgkg- 1 ,地上部带走的Cd为每盆 381 μg。和普通植物相比 ,印度芥菜更能将Zn和Cd从根运输到地上部。Zn 5 0 0mgkg- 1 处理的土壤在种植印度芥菜后其NH4NO3提取的Zn显著高于不种植物的处理 ;土壤添加Cd 2 0 0mgkg- 1 的处理NH4NO3提取的Cd也显著高于不种植物的处理 ,可能的原因是植物根分泌出特殊的分泌物 ,专一性地螯合溶解根系附近的难溶态Zn和Cd,从而提高土壤溶液中的浓度。印度芥菜对Zn、Cd有较强的忍耐和富集能力 ,是Zn、Cd污染土壤修复有潜力的植物。     

Cadmium accumulation and partitioning in Ocimum basilicum as influenced by the application of various potassium fertilizers

Potassium (K) is one of the major essential nutrient elements whose application of organic or nano-chelate-fertilizers has received increased attention recently. Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils and environment is increasing due to the over-application of Cd-containing phosphate fertilizers. But few studies have been carried out on the environmental influences of K-nano-chelate fertilizers especially on Cd-polluted soils. Therefore, the effects of K-fertilizer application in different rates (0, 100 and 200 mg kg^?1 soil) and forms (KCl, K₂SO₄ and K-nano-chelate) on Cd content and partitioning in Ocimum basilicum grown on an artificially Cd-contaminated calcareous soil (with 40 mg Cd kg^?1 soil) were studied under greenhouse conditions. Cadmium decreased shoot dry weight (SDW), but did not affect root dry weight (RDW) and no consistent trend was observed with applied K. Cadmium increased shoot and root Cd concentration or uptake. KCl and K₂SO₄ increased shoot Cd concentration compared to that of control, whereas K-nano-chelate did not affect it. In Cd-treated soils the mean value of Cd translocation factor (ratio of Cd concentration in shoots to that of roots) decreased by 60% as compared to that of the control. Application of 100 mg K-K₂SO₄ and 100 and 200 mg K-nano-chelate increased the Cd translocation factor by 49, 59 and 112% in Cd-treated soils, respectively. In Cd-treated soils, greater amounts of Cd accumulated in roots. K-nano-chelate could mitigate the adverse effect of Cd on SDW and Cd accumulation in plants grown on Cd-polluted soils, so the risk of Cd entrance to the food chain is reduced (however, in Cd-untreated soils, K-nano-chelate increased the Cd translocation factor higher than other K sources). In Cd-polluted soils KCl was the most inappropriate fertilizer that may intensify Cd accumulation in plants. However, it may be useful in the phytoremediation of Cd-polluted soils.     

Metal tolerance in barley and wheat cultivars: physiological screening methods and application in phytoremediation

Purpose

The objective of the study was to evaluate the tolerance of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) in soil contaminated with different concentrations of Cd and Cr, the effect of these metals on some physiological characteristics and the biomass produced in order to assess their potential application in phytoremediation of contaminated soils.

Materials and methods

A greenhouse experiment using two cultivars of barley, CB502 and Pedrezuela, and one of wheat, Albares, was conducted. The pots were watered with different concentrations of Cd or Cr during the period of plant growth. Cellular membrane damage, content and fluorescence of chlorophyll, and plant biomass were evaluated. After harvesting, the content of metals in the roots, shoots and grains was analysed as well as the available metal concentration in soil samples.

Results and discussion

The results show that the Cd treatments did not significantly affect the growth and physiology of the plants, but they were affected by the Cr treatments. At the highest concentration of Cr, the decrease in chlorophyll content compared to the control was 44, 77 and 83 % for the CB502 and Pedrezuela barleys and the Albares wheat respectively. A reduction in biomass was also observed (74, 81 and 85 % respectively). The amount of Cd and Cr accumulated in the root was higher than that accumulated in the aerial part for the three cultivars. The barleys accumulated the highest amount of metal in the roots. The transfer factor was lower in barley than in the wheat for both metals.

Conclusions

Cadmium treatments do not affect plant development. In the case of Cr, plant development and physiological traits were significantly affected. For the highest concentration of Cr, the CB502 barley had the highest tolerance index, 26 %, and the Albares wheat had the lowest one, 15 %. The two barleys were more effective in phytoremediation of soil contaminated with Cd or Cr than the wheat, presenting a higher tolerance to these metals in the assayed conditions.

     

Cadmium accumulation in Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore (Compositae) in heavy-metal polluted soils and Cd-added conditions in hydroponic and pot cultures

Abstract

We have identified Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore (Compositae) as a cadmium (Cd)-accumulator plant in a heavy-metal polluted environment. In soil polluted with Cd, 5.7–17.5 mg kg^?1 Cd, concentrations in the above-ground plant tissues were measured as 14.6–78.6 mg kg^?1 with transfer factors in the above-ground plant tissues (concentration in above-ground tissues/soil concentration) of 1.5–6.0. No other toxic heavy metals or plant micronutrients were found to have accumulated into the above-ground plant tissues. In a hydroponic culture with 1 µmol L^?1 Cd added to Hoagland's nutrient solution, Cd concentration in the above-ground plant tissues was 121.0 mg kg^?1, with a transfer factor of more than 1000. In a pot culture carried out for 9 weeks in a greenhouse, the highest Cd concentration in the above-ground plant tissues, 121.2 mg kg^?1, was found in a treatment with 5 mg kg^?1 Cd, whereas the highest Cd content in an above-ground plant tissue, 106.1 µg, was found in a treatment with 2 mg kg^?1 Cd. These results clearly showed that C. crepidioides is a Cd accumulator. In all samples, the Cd concentration in the above-ground plant tissues was higher than that in the roots. The results obtained in the present study show that this plant has a strong potential for use in phytoremediation in farm fields contaminated with Cd.     

Amaranthus Tricolor Has the Potential for Phytoremediation of Cadmium‐Contaminated Soils

Phytoremediation is a developing technology that uses plants to clean up pollutants in soils. To adopt this technology to cadmium (Cd)–contaminated soils efficiently, a Cd hyperaccumulator with fast growth rate and large biomass is required. In the present study, we selected Caryophyllales as a potential clade that might include Cd hyperaccumulators because this clade had a high mean concentration of zinc (Zn), which is in the same element group as Cd. Three species in Caryophyllales and three species in different clades were grown with Cd. Among them, Amaranthus tricolor showed high accumulating ability for Cd under both water‐culture and soil‐culture conditions, whereas Brassica juncea, a known Cd hyperaccumulator, accumulated high concentrations of Cd in shoots only under water‐culture conditions. This result suggests that A. tricolor has Cd‐solubilizing ability in rhizosphere. Because A. tricolor has large biomass and high growth rate, this species could be useful for phytoremediation of Cd‐contaminated fields.     

Uptake and Translocation of Copper in Brassicaceae

Abstract

Ten cvs. of four Brassicaceae species were tested to evaluate their copper (Cu) uptake and translocation. Germination and root length tests indicated that Brassica juncea cv. Aurea and Raphanus sativus cvs. Rimbo and Saxa were the species with the highest germinability and longest roots at Cu concentrations ranging from 25 up to 200 µM. Raphanus sativus cv. Rimbo grown in hydroponic culture at increasing Cu concentrations (from 0.12 up to 40 µM) for 10 days produced a relatively high biomass (17.2 mg plant^?1) at the highest concentration and had a more efficient Cu translocation (17.8%) in comparison with cvs. Aurea and Saxa. The potential of cv. Rimbo for Cu uptake was then followed for 28 days at 5, 10, and 15 µM Cu. In comparison with the control, after 28 days of growth the 15 µM Cu‐treated plants showed a reduction in the tolerance index (?40%) and in the above‐ground dry biomass (?19%). On the contrary, an increase in the below‐ground dry weight was observed (+35%). Copper accumulated during the growth period both in the below‐ and above‐ground parts (about 14 and 4 µg plant^?1 at 10 and 15 µM Cu, respectively), but the translocation decreased from 50 to 30% in the last week at all the concentrations used. In addition, cv. Rimbo grown in a multiple element [cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), Cu, lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)] naturally‐contaminated site accumulated all elements in the above‐ground part in a range from 5 to 62 µg plant^?1.     

Arsenic and heavy metal accumulation by Athyrium yokoscense from contaminated soils

Abstract

Athyrium yokoscense, a type of fern that grows vigorously in mining areas in Japan, is well known as a Cd hyperaccumulator as well as a Cu, Pb and Zn tolerant plant. However, no information is available on As accumulation of A. yokoscense, although it often grows on soils containing high levels of both heavy metals and As. In this study, young ferns collected from a mine area were grown in media containing As-spiked soils or mine soil in a greenhouse for 21 weeks. Athyrium yokosense was highly tolerant to arsenate and survived in soils containing up to 500 mg As (V) kg^?1. The addition of 100 mg As (V) kg^?1 resulted in the highest fern biomass (1.95 g plant^?1) among As-spiked soils. Although the As concentration of the fern was lower than other As hyperaccumulators, such as Pteris vittata, A. yokoscense could hyperaccumulate As in mature and old fronds. Arsenic was accumulated most efficiently in old fronds (922 mg kg^?1) in the media containing 5 mg As (III) kg^?1. Moreover, higher As accumulation was found in the roots of the ferns, with a range from 506 to 2,192 mg kg^?1. In addition, in the mine soil with elevated concentrations of As and heavy metals, A. yokoscense not only hyperaccumulated As (242 mg As kg^?1 in old fronds), but also accumulated Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn at concentrations much higher than those reported for other terrestrial plants. Athyrium yokoscense accumulated Cd mostly in fronds in high concentrations, up to 1095 mg kg^?1, while it accumulated Cu, Zn and Pb mainly in the roots and the concentrations were 375, 2040 and 1165 mg kg^?1, respectively.     

Phytotoxic Effect of the Uranium on the Growing Up and Development the Plant of Corn

The aim of this article is the determination of uranium accumulation in plants tissue in shoots and roots of corn—maize (Zea mays), grown on two types of soils, pseudogley and chernozem, together with its phytotoxic effect on the plant growth and development. The soils was contaminated with different rates (10 to 1,000 mg U(VI) kg^?1) of uranyl nitrate (UO₂(NO₃)₂·6H₂O). Vegetative tests performed with maize indicated uranium phytotoxic effect on plant height, yield, and germination of seeds. This effect was stronger on the plants grown on pseudogley in comparison with those grown on chernozem. Soil properties determined the tolerance and accumulation of U in plants. A linear dependence between the content of uranium in soil and in plants tissue, including maximal content of 1,000 mg U?kg^?1, indicates that maize could be used for phytoremediation of uranium-contaminated soils.     

Determination of Uranium and Thorium in Soil and Plant Parts around Abandoned Lead–Zinc–Copper Mining Area

This study reports distribution of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) in soil samples and the roots and shoots of some plants grown around an abandoned lead (Pb)–zinc (Zn)–copper (Cu) mining area. The plants Euphorbia macroclada, Verbascum cheiranthifolium Boiss, and Astragalus gummifer were examined. The determinations of U and Th were carried out by inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Uranium and Th levels of the studied soil samples were found to be in the range of 1.1–70.3 mg kg^?1 and 2.1–62.1 mg kg^?1, respectively. Some results obtained from this study were higher than the mean U and Th concentrations of soils reported around the world. Uranium and thorium concentrations in studied plant roots were in the range of 0.04–16 and 0.08–14.57 mg kg^?1, whereas in plant shoots they were 0.02–2.76 and 0.07–12.3 mg kg^?1, respectively. It was concluded that the shoots of Astragalus and roots of Euphorbia and Verbascum can be used as both a biomonitor for environmental pollution and biogeochemical indicator because of their higher U and Th concentrations.     

Phytoextraction of Heavy Metals by Eight Plant Species in the Field

Phytoremediation is an in situ, cost-effective potential strategy for cleanup of sites contaminated with trace metals. Selection of plant materials is an important factor for successful field phytoremediation. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the phytoextraction abilities of six high biomass plants (Vertiveria zizanioides, Dianthus chinensis, Rumex K-1 (Rumex upatientia × R. timschmicus), Rumex crispus, and two populations of Rumex acetosa) in comparison to metal hyperaccumulators (Viola baoshanensis, Sedum alfredii). The paddy fields used in the experiment were contaminated with Pb, Zn, and Cd. Our results indicated that V. baoshanensis accumulated 28 mg kg^?1 Cd and S. alfredii accumulated 6,279 mg kg^?1 Zn (dry weight) in shoots, with bioconcentration factors up to 4.8 and 6.3, respectively. The resulting total extractions of V. baoshanensis and S. alfredii were 0.17 kg ha^?1 for Cd and 32.7 kg ha^?1 for Zn, respectively, with one harvest without any treatment. The phytoextraction rates of V. baoshanensis and S. alfredii for Cd and Zn were 0.88 and 1.15%, respectively. Among the high biomass plants, R. crispus extracted Zn and Cd of 26.8 and 0.16 kg ha^?1, respectively, with one harvest without any treatment, so it could be a candidate species for phytoextraction of Cd and Zn from soil. No plants were proved to have the ability to phytoextract Pb with high efficiency.     

Influence of Selenium on Cadmium Toxicity in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. 4200) at an Early Growth Stage in a Hydroponic System

An experiment was established to assess the ability of selenium (Se) to reduce cadmium (Cd) toxicity when tomato was grown hydroponically. A factorial experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with six replicates in cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. 4200). The Se was applied at four levels [0 mg L^–1 (Se0), 2 mg L^–1 Se (Se1), 4 mg L^–1 Se (Se2), and 6 mg L^–1 Se (Se3)], whereas Cd was applied at three levels [0 µM Cd (Cd0), 5 µM Cd (Cd1), and 7 µM Cd (Cd2)]. The Se improved the dry weight of roots even when plants were exposed to Cd. Treatment Se1 improved the dry weight of shoots in Cd1 and Cd2. Treatments Se1 and Se2 improved photosynthesis in Cd1. Treatment Se1 significantly improved stomatal conductance in Cd2 at all levels of Se relative to Cd2. The greatest Cd concentration in leaves was observed in Cd2 × Se0 and while Se concentration in solution increased in response to Se1, Se2, and Se3. The greatest Se level reduced Cd uptake the most. Growth and photosynthetic attributes can be negatively affected by Cd, but Se has the ability to buffer, or improve, several attributes.     

Improved growth and Cu tolerance of Cu excess-stressed white clover after inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus intraradices, on growth and copper (Cu) tolerance of white clover (Trifolium repens) were investigated in soils with different Cu amounts. The AM inoculation increased plant biomass and the total or bound Cu concentrations in shoots and roots but decreased the total Cu in soils and the exchangeable Cu in shoots, roots and soils at all Cu levels. Mycorrhizal plants had higher levels of root phosphorus and shoot zinc (Zn) at lower Cu levels and more nitrogen and Zn in roots and potassium, calcium and magnesium in shoots and roots at all Cu addition levels. Additionally, AM inoculation enhanced urease, acid phosphatase and catalase activities in rhizosphere soils and mycorrhizal roots showed higher levels of peroxidase, catalase, proline and soluble sugar at all Cu addition levels. These results indicate that mycorrhizal white clover is potentially suitable for Cu phytoremediation based on greenhouse studies.     

Effect of Zinc Application on Cadmium Uptake of Maize Grown in Alkaline Soil

The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of zinc (Zn) application on cadmium (Cd) uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in alkaline soil. Four doses of cadmium (Cd; 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 ppm) in the form of cadmium chloride and four doses of Zn (0, 10, 20, and 40 ppm) in the form of zinc sulfate were applied to the soils. Plants were harvested at the 45th day of their developments. The Cd amounts in shoots and roots were analyzed separately. Significant differences between Cd amounts in shoots and roots are obtained with the application of different Zn doses (P < 0.01). In all Cd levels, Zn application increases Cd in both shoots and roots relative to Cd contents of plants grown in the pots that not applied Zn. It is also found that Cd content of the roots is greater than that of shoots.     

Isolation and identification of rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars for potential higher and lower Cd accumulation

Cadmium (Cd) as a non‐essential toxic metal has become one of the seriously environmental problems. Overload of Cd into plant shoots, particularly the addible parts (i.e., grains), jeopardizes crop production and food safety. Isolating and identifying genotypic variations in Cd accumulation of rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars is an efficient approach for phytoremediation and developing lower Cd‐accumulating plants. In this study, a trial was conducted under natural condition in Nanjing, China, from 2014 to 2017, and identified 64 rapeseed cultivars collected from the areas of Gui Zhou province. Rapeseed grew under moderate Cd exposure (5 mg kg^?1) for 5 months, and shoots were harvested for Cd quantification. A great variation of total Cd concentrations in shoots, ranking from 0.16 to 17.03 mg Cd kg^?1, was found. Following the initial examination of all cultivars, two sets of plants with high (#138 and #177) and low (#208 and #244) Cd concentrations were further investigated. Throughout the growth period, cultivars #138 and #177 accumulated more Cd during vegetative (30, 60, and 120 d) and late developmental (180 d) stages than cultivars #208 and #244. The higher Cd concentration in shoots of #138 and #177 was associated with the higher Cd concentration in xylem sap, suggesting the greater capability of Cd translocation from roots to shoots. Compared to #208 and #244, Cd exposure moderately reduced zinc and iron concentrations in some tissues of #138 and #177, whereas the manganese and magnesium concentrations showed no change. Although #138 and #177 cultivars accumulated more Cd in their shoots, no Cd toxicity was detected. Moreover, both #138 and #177 cultivars had a similar biomass to #208 or #244. These results suggest that #138 and #177 rapeseeds are tolerant to Cd stress.     

Effects of Cadmium and Lead on Plant Growth and Content of Heavy Metals in Arugula Cultivated in Nutritive Solution

A greenhouse assay using an arugula (Eruca sativa L.) hydroponics system was carried out to evaluate the following effects of increasing amounts of cadmium and lead in nutritive solution: (a) production; (b) translocation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) throughout the plants; (c) possible interactions of Cd and Pb with other mineral elements, transition metals, essential to plants; (d) tolerance limits to Cd and Pb with regard to production; and (e) chelating interaction of Cd and Pb with root substances. The absorption of Cd and Pb increased with increasing dosages in solution. Roots accumulated larger amounts of metals than shoots. Plants develop better with less than 0.025 mg L^?1 of Cd, with a damaging Cd concentration of 1 mg L^?1. The tolerable Pb concentration was up to 10 mg L^?1. Cadmium and Pb translocate poorly in plants and their deleterious effect is due to the deposit of very stable chelates in roots.     

Cadmium Phytoextraction Efficiency of Arum (Colocasia antiquorum), Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) Grown in Hydroponics

Selection of a phytoextraction plant with high Cd accumulation potential based on compatibility with mechanized cultivation practice and local environmental conditions may provide more benefits than selection based mainly on high Cd tolerance plants. In this hydroponics study, the potential of Cd accumulation by three plant species; arum (Colocasia antiquorum), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) were investigated. Arum (Colocasia antiquorum L.) plants were grown for 60 days in a nutrient solution with 0, 10 or 50 μM Cd, while radish and water spinach plants grew only 12 days in 0, 1.5, 2.5, 5 or 10 μM Cd. Growth of radish and water spinach plants decreased under all Cd treatments (1.5 to 10 μM), while arum growth decreased only at 50 μM Cd. At 10 μM Cd treatment, the growth of arum was similar to the control treatment indicating higher tolerance of arum for Cd than radish and water spinach. Cadmium concentrations in different plant parts of all plant species increased significantly with Cd application in the nutrient solution. Arum and water spinach retained greater proportions of Cd in their roots, while in radish, Cd concentration in leaves was higher than in other plant parts. Cadmium concentrations in arum increased from 158 to 1,060 in the dead leaves, 37 to 280 in the normal leaves, 108 to 715 in the stems, 42 to 290 in the bulbs and 1,195 to 3,840 mg kg^?1 in the roots, when the Cd level in the solution was raised from 10 μM Cd to 50 μM Cd. Arum accumulated (dry weight?×?concentration) 25 mg plant^?1 at 10 μM, while the corresponding values for radish and water spinach were 0.23 and 0.44 mg plant^?1, respectively. With no growth retardation at Cd concentrations as high as 166 mg kg^?1 measured in entire plant (including root) of arum at 10 μM Cd in the nutrient solution, arum could be a potential Cd accumulator plant species and could be used for phytoremediation.     

Effects of Soil Amendments on Growth and Metal Uptake by Ocimum gratissimum Grown in Cd/Zn-Contaminated Soil

Hydroponic and pot experiments were conducted to assess the uptake of heavy metals (Cd and Zn) by a common crop plant, African basil, Ocimum gratissimum. In addition, the effects of soil amendments, hydroxyapatite (HA) and cow manure on plant growth and metal accumulations were compared. In the hydroponic study, plants were exposed to various concentrations of Cd (2.5 and 5 mg L^?1) and Zn (10 and 20 mg L^?1) for 15 days. O. gratissimum was shown to be a Cd accumulator more than a Zn accumulator. Cadmium concentration in its shoots exceeded 100 mg kg^?1. In the pot experiments, soils from a heavily Cd-contaminated site (Cd 67.9 mg kg^?1 and Zn 2,886.8 mg kg^?1) were treated with cow manure and HA at the rates of 10% and 20% (w/w), and 0.75 and 1.5% (w/w), respectively. Plants were grown in the greenhouse for 3 months. The addition of cow manure resulted in the highest biomass production and the lowest accumulations of Cd in plant parts, while HA was more efficient than cow manure in reducing Zn uptake. Leaves of African basil showed a decreased Cd concentration from 1.5 to 0.3 mg kg^?1 (cow manure) and decreased Zn concentration from 69.3 to 34 mg kg^?1 (HA). This clearly demonstrates the efficiency of HA and cow manure in reducing metal content in leaves of plants grown on high metal-contaminated soil to acceptable or close to acceptable values (0.2 mg kg^?1 for Cd, 99.4 mg kg^?1 for Zn).     

Arsenic and Cadmium Phytoextraction Potential of Crambe Compared with Indian Mustard

ABSTRACT

The ability to tolerate and accumulate arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) was compared between Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) and Crambe abyssinica (Hochst.) (Crambe or Abyssinian mustard). Plants were grown hydroponically and treated with 70 μM sodium arsenate or 50 μ M cadmium chloride for two weeks. When nutrients were omitted during the As treatment, leaves of C. abyssinica accumulated an average of 140 mg As kg^?1, compared with 34 mg kg^?1 for B. juncea. When quarter-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution was provided during As treatment, leaves of C. abyssinica accumulated an average of 270 mg As kg^?1, compared with 13 mg kg^?1 for B. juncea. Cadmium accumulation on a dry-weight basis was approximately two times greater in shoots of B. juncea. Shoot biomass production in the presence or absence of metals was greatest for C. abyssinica. Because of its larger biomass and more efficient accumulation of As, C. abyssinica should be considered for use in phytoremediation research.     

Effect of cadmium toxicity on micronutrient concentration,uptake and partitioning in seven rice cultivars

Heavy metal uptake, translocation and partitioning differ greatly among plant cultivars and plant parts. A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of cadmium (Cd) levels (0, 45 and 90 mg kg^?1 soil) on dry matter yield, and concentration, uptake and translocation of Cd, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu in seven rice cultivars. Application of 45 mg Cd kg^?1 soil decreased root and shoot dry weight. On average, shoot and root Cd concentrations and uptake increased in all cultivars, but micronutrients uptake decreased following the application of 45 mg Cd kg^?1. No significant differences were observed between 45 and 90 mg kg^?1 Cd levels. On average, Cd treatments resulted in a decrease in Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations in shoots and Zn, Cu and Mn concentrations in roots. Differences were observed in Cd and micronutrient concentrations and uptake among rice cultivars. Translocation factor, defined as the shoot/root concentration ratio indicated that Cu and Fe contents in roots were higher than in shoots. The Mn concentration was much higher in shoots. Zinc concentrations were almost similar in the two organs of rice at 0 and 45 mg Cd kg^?1. A higher Cd level, however, led to a decrease in the Zn concentration in shoots.