Phytoextraction of Cd and Zn by the hyperaccumulator plant Thlaspi caerulescens as affected by plant size and origin
Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: Phytoextraction of metals relies on the ability of plants to tolerate and take up large amounts of metals in their above-ground parts.
Hyperaccumulating plants exhibit remarkable metal concentrations
in their shoots, but their biomass production is generally
considered too low to make these plants candidates for
phytoextraction. This work was conducted to demonstrate (i) the
high inter- or intra-population variability of biomass in Thlaspi
caerulescens , and (ii) the positive response of the hyperaccumulator
to nitrogen fertilization on the extraction of Cd and Zn.
Two populations of T. caerulescensl/Ig were grown in a greenhouse on
two metal-contaminated soils in the presence of increasing
concentrations of nitrogen supplied as nitrate or ammonium. At
harvest, biomass, and Cd and Zn concentrations were determined.
Plants were also grown on field plots amended with two rates of
contaminated sewage sludge. After harvest, each individual plant
was weighed, grouped in dry weight classes, and each class was
measured for Cd and Zn content. Results showed that the production
of aerial biomass of T. caerulescensl/Ig was enhanced with
increasing nitrogen fertilization. In parallel, concentrations in Cd
and Zn slightly decreased, but metal extraction was strongly
improved by fertilization. Also, the two populations exhibited a
different ability to extract Cd. In the field, plants demonstrated a
wide range of biomass production, and the larger plants achieved
the most phytoextraction, despite a slightly lower metal concentration
in their tissues. In addition to its high capacity to accumulate
metals in its shoots, T. caerulescensl/Ig produces a relatively large
biomass both naturally and with appropriate fertilization, making it
potentially an efficient tool for phytoextraction.
Source: HAL
Institutions: Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, Université de Lorraine
Language: English
Topic: Heavy metals in environment
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2460774527