Metal accumulation, growth and nutrition of Vernonia polyanthes exposed to lead nitrate and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The association between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be used to bioremediate areas contaminated by metals. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the lead (Pb2+) phytoaccumulation capacity, morpho-physiology and nutrition responses of Vernonia polyanthes exposed to a solution amended with concentrations of lead nitrate and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The treatments consisted of increasing doses of Pb2+ as lead nitrate [Pb(NO3)2], two strains of AMF and an absolute control without lead and AMF. Lead negatively affected some morphophysiological variables, reduced 27.3, 25.63, 30.60, and 56.60% shoot length, root collar diameter, number of leaves and leaf area, respectively, besides reducing decreasing chlorophyll a. Lead accumulated in the shoot and roots, the latter at the highest concentrations. However, the translocation factor was above 1, indicating low efficiency. The bioaccumulation factor referring to the roots were above 1. The fungi colonization rate was low, 3.31% for Gigaspora margarita and 2.33% for Acaulospora morrowiae. However, the absorption of lead increased, reflecting in lower values of chlorophyll a, dry mass of root and diameter. Results indicated that the arboreal species V. polyanthes tolerate high concentrations of lead and can accumulate significant amounts in the roots. AMF increase the accumulation of lead in the shoot and can be used in projects aimed at the phytoextraction of metals.

Differential behavior of the summer cover crops in the absorption and translocation of copper / Comportamento diferencial das plantas de cobertura de verão na absorção e translocação do cobre

ABSTRACT: Phytoremediation is an alternative technique used to treat copper-contaminated soils. The objective of this research was to explore the behavior of nine summer cover crops regarding the growth, absorption and translocation of copper in soils with contamination levels exceeding the Value of Prevention, with a view to selecting plants for phytoremediation programs. In the experiments the Cambisol was contaminated with copper, added in doses of 0, 100, 200, 400, 500 and 600mg kg-1, in which the following nine plants were cultivated under greenhouse conditions: Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan, Dolichos lablad, Mucuna cinereum, Mucuna aterrima, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis, Pennisetum glaucum and Paspalum notatum. At 90 days after sowing the plants were evaluated for dry mass of shoot and root, Cu, N, P, K, Ca, Zn, and Fe levels in the shoot and Cu in the roots. High soil Cu levels induced a decline in the phosphorus absorption by the plants. Canavalia ensiformis displayed high potential for phytoextraction as these plants could translocate high copper concentrations to the aerial plant parts, while the Mucuna cinereum and M. aterrima are indicated for the copper phytostabilization programs, due to the high copper accumulation in their root systems.

RESUMO: A fitorremediação é uma alternativa para o tratamento de solos contaminados com cobre. O objetivo do trabalho foi conhecer o comportamento de nove plantas de cobertura de verão quanto ao crescimento, absorção e translocação do cobre em solos com contaminação acima dos Valores de Prevenção, com vistas a seleção de plantas para programas de fitorremediação. Um Cambissolo foi contaminado com doses de 0, 100, 200, 400, 500 e 600mg kg-1 de cobre e cultivado em casa de vegetação com nove plantas: Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan, Dolichos lablad, Mucuna cinereum, Mucuna aterrima, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis, Pennisetum glaucum e Paspalum notatum. Aos 90 dias após a semeadura as plantas foram avaliadas quanto à produção de massa seca de parte aérea e raízes, teores de Cu, N, P, K, Ca, Zn, e Fe na parte aérea e de Cu nas raízes. As altas concentrações de Cu no solo reduziram a absorção de fósforo pelas plantas. O feijão-de-porco apresenta potencial para a fitoextração, pois apresentou translocação de altas concentrações de cobre para os tecidos aéreos, enquanto que as mucunas preta e cinza são indicadas para programas de fitoestabilização de cobre, pois acumularam elevada concentração de cobre no sistema radicular.

Capacidad fitorremediadora de cinco especies altoandinas de suelos contaminados con metales pesados

La fitorremediación consiste en el uso de plantas para remediar in situ suelos, sedimentos, agua y aire contaminados por desechos orgánicos, nutrientes o metales pesados, eliminando los contaminantes del ambiente o haciéndolos inocuos. El trabajo fue realizado en condiciones de invernadero en el distrito de Lachaqui, provincia de Canta, región Lima, de octubre de 2011 a octubre de 2012. Fueron evaluados veinte tratamientos con un diseño factorial completo 5 x 4: 5 especies alto andinas, y 4 sustratos con 30%, 60%,100% de relave de mina (RM) y suelo sin RM. La producción de biomasa disminuyó significativamente en Solanum nitidum, Brassica rapa, Fuertesimalva echinata y Urtica urens y Lupinus ballianus, con el tratamiento de 100% de relave de mina. La mayor eficiencia de acumulación de plomo y zinc fue obtenida en las raíces de Fuertesimalva echinata con el tratamiento de 100% de relave de mina, obteniendo 2015.1 mg de plomo kg-1 MS y 1024.2 mg de zinc kg-1 MS. En las raíces de L. ballianus fue obtenida la más alta acumulación de cadmio, con una concentración de 287.3 mg kg-1 MS con el tratamiento de 100% de relave de mina. Fuertesimalva echinata presentó el mayor índice de tolerancia (IT) al tratamiento de 100% de relave de mina, con un IT de 41.5%, pero, S. nitidum y L. ballianus presentaron el mayor IT al tratamiento de 60% de relave de mina con IT de 68.5% y 67.9.

Phytoremediation consist in the use of plants to recover soil, sediments, water and air in situ, which have been contaminated by organic waste, nutrients or heavy metals, by removing pollutants from the environment or making them harmless. The evaluation work was conducted under greenhouse conditions in Lachaqui, Canta, Lima, from October 2011 to October 2012. Twenty treatments were evaluated with a 5 x 4 factorial design: 5 high elevation Andean species, and 4 substrates with 30%, 60%, 100% mine waste (MW) and tailings soil without MW. In Solanum nitidum, Brassica rapa, Fuertesimalva echinata, Urtica urens and Lupinus ballianus, the biomass production decrease significantly with the of 100 % mine waste treatment (MW). The major efficiency accumulation of lead and zinc was obtained in the roots of Fuertesimalva echinata with 100 % MW treatment, obtaining 2015.1 mg of lead kg-1 DM and 1024.2 mg of zinc kg-1 DM, this specie presented the major tolerance index (TI) to 100 % MW treatment, with 41.5 % TI. The highest cadmium accumulation was obtained in the roots of L. ballianus, with a concentration of 287.3 mg kg-1 DM with 100 % MW treatment, this species also had a 67.9% TI in 60% MW treatment. And finally, S. nitidum presented a 68.5 % TI in 60% MW treatment.