Cadmium Accumulation in Relation to Organic Acids and Nonprotein Thiols in Leaves of the Recently Found Cd Hyperaccumulator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rorippa globosa</Emphasis> and the Cd-accumulating Plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rorippa islandica</Emphasis>

It has been proposed that organic acid and nonprotein thiol are involved in the hyperaccumulation of metals. In this study, Cd accumulation, organic acid, and nonprotein thiol production and their relationships in the leaves of Cd-hyperaccumulator Rorippa globosa were examined and compared with a closely related species, Rorippa islandica. The results showed that there was no reduction in biomass of R. globosa when treated with 25 μg Cd g⁻¹ (T₂), despite Cd accumulation in the leaves was up to 158.2 μg g⁻¹ DW. On the other hand, the growth of Cd-treated R. islandica was obviously inhibited as it accumulated more than 100 μg g⁻¹ DW in the leaves. Therefore, R. islandica behaved as a Cd-accumulating plant. The Cd treatments could significantly induce the synthesis of acetic acid in both species, suggesting that acetic acid, as the most abundant organic acid, might be related to the Cd accumulation. Significant positive correlations between Cd concentrations and both tartaric and malic acid concentrations in the leaves of R. globosa were observed. There was a significant positive correlation between Cd concentrations and acetic acid concentrations in the leaves of R. islandica. This trend of tartaric and malic acids in the leaves of R. globosa and acetic acid in the leaves of R. islandica might be related to Cd accumulation. In addition, a quadratic relationship was obviously observed for NP-SH contents and total Cd concentrations in the leaves of R. globosa, indicating that NP-SH was significantly related to Cd accumulation and tolerance.     

Cd、Zn及其交互作用对互花米草中重金属的积累、亚细胞分布及化学形态的影响

通过盆栽试验,研究了Cd、Zn及其交互作用下互花米草中Cd、Zn的含量及积累量,并分析了Cd、Zn在互花米草中的亚细胞分布及化学形态。结果表明：Cd-Zn处理组互花米草地上部及根部Cd含量显著高于Cd处理组;Cd-Zn处理组根部Zn含量显著低于Zn处理组,但地上部差异不显著,说明Zn促进Cd的吸收,Cd抑制Zn的吸收。Cd-Zn处理组互花米草地上部Cd积累量显著高于Cd处理组,但是根部Cd积累量却显著低于Cd处理组;Zn处理组地上部及根部Zn积累量均显著高于对照组及Cd-Zn处理组。Cd单因素胁迫下,Cd主要分布在细胞壁,Cd-Zn交互作用下,Cd在胞液中的分配比例高于其他细胞组分;Zn单因素及Cd-Zn交互作用下,Zn在胞液中的分配比例均较高,总的分配比例呈现以下趋势：胞液>细胞壁>细胞器,说明Zn的添加影响了Cd的亚细胞分布,Cd的出现对Zn在互花米草细胞中的分布影响不明显。Cd和Zn在互花米草叶中主要以氯化钠提取态存在,表明互花米草中Cd和Zn多以果胶酸盐结合态或蛋白质结合态存在。     

杭州市六种常见绿化树种叶片累积空气重金属特征及与环境因子的相关性

该研究选取杭州市2个污染区常见的6种绿化树种叶片作为材料,以清洁区为对照,采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法,测定受试树种叶内及对应样点降尘、土壤中Pb、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni和Zn的含量,分析叶片的吸污能力以及重金属含量与土壤、降尘的相关性。结果表明:(1)污染区树种重金属含量明显高于对照区,绿化树种对环境重金属污染物有一定的吸收能力,重金属含量在不同的树种中具有明显差异;所测树种叶内Zn含量最大,Pb次之,Cd最小,指示能力则以枸骨(Ilex cornuta)对Cd和Pb、圆柏(Juniperus chinensis)对Cu、茶花(Camellia japonica)对Ni、广玉兰(Magnolia grandiflora)对Zn为最强。(2)3个样点树种叶片与对应样点土壤、降尘中重金属元素含量的相关性分析和回归分析表明,叶片重金属含量与土壤重金属含量的相关性较小,而与降尘呈显著正相关。因此,绿化树种叶片作为空气重金属污染的累积器和监测器是科学合理的,且上述4种树种对杭州市空气中6种重金属污染的指示作用具有一定参考价值,可作为监测城市空气质量的特型树种。该研究结果为减少城市空气重金属污染提供了科学依据和理论支持。     

Cellular compartmentation of cadmium and zinc in relation to other elements in the hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri

The cellular compartmentation of elements was analysed in the Zn hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri (L.) O'Kane & Al-Shehbaz (=Cardaminopsis halleri) using energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis of frozen-hydrated tissues. Quantitative data were obtained using oxygen as an internal standard in the analyses of vacuoles, whereas a peak/background ratio method was used for quantification of elements in pollen and dehydrated trichomes. Arabidopsis halleri was found to hyperaccumulate not only Zn but also Cd in the shoot biomass. While large concentrations of Zn and Cd were found in the leaves and roots, flowers contained very little. In roots grown hydroponically, Zn and Cd accumulated in the cell wall of the rhizodermis (root epidermis), mainly due to precipitation of Zn/Cd phosphates. In leaves, the trichomes had by far the largest concentrations of Zn and Cd. Inside the trichomes there was a striking sub-cellular compartmentation, with almost all the Zn and Cd being accumulated in a narrow ring in the trichome base. This distribution pattern was very different from that for Ca and P. The epidermal cells other than trichomes were very small and contained lower concentrations of Zn and Cd than mesophyll cells. In particular, the concentrations of Cd and Zn in the mesophyll cells increased markedly in response to increasing Zn and Cd concentrations in the nutrient solution. This indicates that the mesophyll cells in the leaves of A. halleri are the major storage site for Zn and Cd, and play an important role in their hyperaccumulation. Received: 4 April 2000 / Accepted: 16 May 2000     

Distribution of Zn in functionally different leaf epidermal cells of the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens

The aim of this study was to show the potential of Thlaspi caerulescens in the cleaning‐up of a moderately Zn ‐contaminated soil and to elucidate tolerance mechanisms at the cellular and subcellular level for the detoxification of the accumulated metal within the leaf. Measured Zn concentrations in shoots were high and reached a maximum value of 83 mmol kg ^{? 1} dry mass, whereas total concentrations of Zn in the roots were lower (up to 13 mmol kg ^{? 1}). In order to visualize and quantify Zn at the subcellular level in roots and leaves, ultrathin cryosections were analysed using energy‐dispersive X‐ray micro‐analysis. Elemental maps of ultrathin cryosections showed that T. caerulescens mainly accumulated Zn in the vacuoles of epidermal leaf cells and Zn was almost absent from the vacuoles of the cells from the stomatal complex, thereby protecting the guard and subsidiary cells from high Zn concentrations. Observed patterns of Zn distribution between the functionally different epidermal cells were the same in both the upper and lower epidermis, and were independent of the total Zn content of the plant. Zinc stored in vacuoles was evenly distributed and no Zn‐containing crystals or deposits were observed. From the elemental maps there was no indication that P, S or Cl was associated with the high Zn concentrations in the vacuoles. In addition, Zn also accumulated in high concentrations in both the cell walls of epidermal cells and in the mesophyll cells, indicating that apoplastic compartmentation is another important mechanism involved in zinc tolerance in the leaves of T. caerulescens.     

Zn,Cd, S and trace metal bioaccumulation in willow (Salix spp.) cultivars grown hydroponically

Willows (Salix spp.) can be used to phytoremediate soils contaminated by Zn and Cd under certain conditions. In this study, the ability of 14 Salix cultivars to concentrate Cd, Zn and S in leaves was measured in hydroponic culture with 10 and 200 µM Cd and Zn, respectively, in the nutrient medium. The cultivars showed a wide range of biomass yields, tolerance to metals, and foliar concentrations of Zn and Cd, with some cultivars accumulating up to 1000 mg kg^?1 Zn, 70 mg kg^?1 Cd and 10,000 mg kg^?1 S with only mild phytotoxicity symptoms attributable to excess Zn. Cultivars with higher foliar Zn concentrations tended to have higher foliar Cd concentrations as well, and competition between Zn and Cd for uptake was observed. Exposure of Salix cultivars to Cd and Zn did not affect foliar concentrations of secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, but trace metal concentrations in leaves were significantly reduced (Fe and Cu) or increased (Mn) by exposure to excess Zn and Cd. Sulfur-XANES spectroscopy showed foliar S to be predominantly in highly oxidized (sulfate plus sulfonate) and reduced (thiol) forms, with oxidized S more prevalent in willows with the highest total S content.     

Effects of Total Soft Tissue and Shell Thickness on the Accumulation of Heavy Metals (Cd,Cu, Pb,and Zn) in the Green-Lipped Mussel Perna viridis

The effects of the total soft tissue dry weight and shell thickness and on the accumulation of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were determined in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis. In agreement with Boyden's formula (1977), our results showed that the plotting of metal concentrations against the total soft tissue dry weight and shell thickness of the mussel on a double logarithmic basis gave negative coefficients especially for Cd, Pb, and Zn. Therefore, the smaller mussels (lower total soft tissue dry weight) had higher concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn than the larger ones. Since shell thickness could be considered to estimate of the age of the mussel, it was also found that the younger mussels accumulated more Cd, Pb, and Zn than the older ones. This indicated that P. viridis has a different metabolic strategy for each of the metals studied which may be related to age. However, the accumulation of Cu was hardly affected by the sizes and ages of the mussel. This indicated that the accumulation pathways of Cu and the processes affecting the bioavailability of Cu to the mussel are different from those for Cd, Pb, and Zn.     

Cadmium accumulation in relation to organic acids in leaves of Solanum nigrum L. as a newly found cadmium hyperaccumulator

The influence of various cadmium concentrations on organic acid levels in leaves of the Cd hyperaccumulator, Solanum nigrum L. and a closely related species, Solanum melongena L., were investigated. In particular, the relationship of organic acids with Cd accumulation in the two plants was investigated. The results showed that Cd accumulation in the shoots of S. nigrum was significantly higher than that of S. melongena. The accumulation of Cd in the leaves of S. nigrum ranged from 2.0 to 167.8 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (DW), but only from 1.2 to 64.0 μg g⁻¹ DW in S. melongena. Solanum melongena was considerably less tolerant to Cd than S. nigrum. Approximately 20% of the total Cd in S. nigrum leaves was water-soluble, suggesting that some accumulated Cd was associated with water-soluble compounds such as organic acids. Malic acid in the leaves of S. nigrum was the most abundant organic acid [up to 115.6–145.7 μmol g⁻¹ fresh weight (FW)], but this acid was not significantly affected by the Cd concentration in soil. However, the level of malic acid in S. melongena plants was much lower, only 16.3–75.4 μmol g⁻¹ FW. The significant positive correlations between total Cd and water-soluble Cd concentrations and both acetic and citric acid concentrations in the leaves of S. nigrum were observed. In contrast, there was no correlation between concentrations of the two acids and Cd concentrations in the leaves of S. melongena. These results indicated that acetic and citric acids in the leaves of S. nigrum might be related to its Cd hyperaccumulation.     

Metallothionein response to cadmium and zinc exposures compared in two freshwater bivalves, Dreissena polymorpha and Corbicula fluminea

Metallothionein (MT) response to cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) bioaccumulation after single or combined direct exposure was compared in two freshwater bivalves, Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel) and Corbicula fluminea (Asiatic clam). Bivalves were exposed to 0.133 μM Cd and/or 15.3 μM Zn, with metal and MT concentrations analysed in the whole soft body after 1, 3, 10 and 24 days of exposure and compared with controls. Results showed significant increase in MT concentrations in both species exposed to Cd and Cd+Zn with a higher accumulation of the protein compared to the control in D. polymorpha for nevertheless similar Cd levels accumulated with time. Exposure to Zn alone led to a significant increase in MT concentrations only in C. fluminea, whereas there was a lack of MT gene induction in the zebra mussels which was confirmed by MT mRNA quantification in gills (RT-PCR). Mussel mortality after 10 days of exposure to Zn and Cd + Zn is discussed with regard to detoxification mechanisms, which include metallothioneins.     

Morphophysiological responses and programmed cell death induced by cadmium in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Genipa americana</Emphasis> L. (Rubiaceae)

Cadmium (Cd) originating from atmospheric deposits, from industrial residues and from the application of phosphate fertilizers may accumulate in high concentrations in soil, water and food, thus becoming highly toxic to plants, animals and human beings. Once accumulated in an organism, Cd discharges and sets off a sequence of biochemical reactions and morphophysiological changes which may cause cell death in several tissues and organs. In order to test the hypothesis that Cd interferes in the metabolism of G. americana, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to measure eventual morphophysiological responses and cell death induced by Cd in this species. The plants were exposed to Cd concentrations ranging from 0 to 16 mg l⁻¹, in a nutritive solution. In TUNEL reaction, it was shown that Cd caused morphological changes in the cell nucleus of root tip and leaf tissues, which are typical for apoptosis. Cadmium induced anatomical changes in roots and leaves, such as the lignification of cell walls in root tissues and leaf main vein. In addition, the leaf mesophyll showed increase of the intercellular spaces. On the other hand, Cd caused reductions in the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration, while the maximum potential quantum efficiency of PS2 (Fv/Fm) was unchanged. Cadmium accumulated in the root system in high concentrations, with low translocation for the shoot, and promoted an increase of Ca and Zn levels in the roots and a decrease of K level in the leaves. High concentrations of Cd promoted morphophysiological changes and caused cell death in roots and leaves tissues of G. americana.     

Assessing the potential for zinc and cadmium phytoremediation with the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens

Thlaspi caerulescens is a Zn and Cd hyperaccumulator, and has been tested for its phytoremediation potential. In this paper we examine the relationships between the concentrations of Zn and Cd in soil and in T. caerulescens shoots, and calculate the rates of Zn and Cd extraction from soil. Using published data from field surveys, field and pot experiments, we show that the concentrations of Zn and Cd in the shoots correlate with the concentrations of Zn and Cd in soils in a log-linear fashion over three orders of magnitude. There is little systematic difference between different populations of T. caerulescens in the relationship between soil and plant Zn concentrations. In contrast, populations from southern France are far superior to those from other regions in Cd accumulation. Bioaccumulation factors (plant to soil concentration ratio) for Zn and Cd decrease log-linearly with soil metal concentration. Model calculations show that phytoremediation using T. caerulescens is feasible when soil is only moderately contaminated with Zn and Cd, and the phytoremediation potential is better for Cd than for Zn if the populations from southern France are used. Recent progress in the understanding of the mechanisms of Zn and Cd uptake by T. caerulescens is also reviewed.     

Assessment of heavy metal accumulation in Anzali wetland,Iran, using a submerged aquatic plant,Ceratophyllum demersum

The objective of this study in 2009 was to examine whether levels of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) were higher in the leaves than in the stems of a submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum in Anzali wetland. Cadmium, Pb and Cr concentrations were highest in the leaves. The mean concentrations of Cd and Cr in the leaves at all the sampling sites ranged between 0.94–1.26 μg g^?1 and 1.03–2.71 μg g^?1, respectively. Lead also had its highest concentrations in the leaves. The mean concentration of Pb in the leaves at all sampling sites ranged between 7.49–11.88 μg g^?1. Copper and Zn concentrations were highest in the stems. The mean concentrations of Cu and Zn in the stems at all sampling sites ranged between 10.79–17.91 μg g^?1 and 19.89–40.01 μg g^?1, respectively. Cadmium and Pb concentrations were higher in the leaves than in the stems, while Zn concentration was higher in the stems than in the leaves. Accumulation of Cu and Cr in the organs of C. demersum was in descending order of leaf ～ stem, since there was no significant difference between their mean concentrations in the leaves and stems.     

Natural variation in cadmium tolerance and its relationship to metal hyperaccumulation for seven populations of Thlaspi caerulescens from western Europe

Thlaspi caerulescens J. & C. Presl is a distinctive metallophyte of central and western Europe that almost invariably hyperaccumulates Zn to> 1.0% of shoot dry biomass in its natural habitats, and can hyperaccumulate Ni to> 0.1% when growing on serpentine soils. Populations from the Ganges region of southern France also have a remarkable ability to accumulate Cd in their shoots to concentrations well in excess of 0.01% without apparent toxicity symptoms. Because hyperaccumulation of Cd appears to be highly variable in this species, the relationship between Cd tolerance and metal accumulation was investigated for seven contrasting populations of T. caerulescens grown under controlled conditions in solution culture. The populations varied considerably in average plant biomass (3.1‐fold), shoot : root ratio (2.2‐fold), Cd hyperaccumulation (3.5‐fold), shoot : root Cd‐concentration ratio (3.1‐fold), and shoot Cd : Zn ratio (2.6‐fold), but the degree of hyperaccumulation of Cd and Zn were strongly correlated. Two populations from the Ganges region were distinct in exhibiting high degrees of both Cd tolerance and hyperaccumulation (one requiring 3 µM Cd for optimal growth), whereas across the other five populations there was an inverse relationship between Cd tolerance and hyperaccumulation, as has been noted previously for Zn. Metal hyperaccumulation was negatively correlated with shoot : root ratio, which could account quantitatively for the differences between populations in shoot Zn (but not Cd) concentrations. On exposure to 30 µM Cd, the two Ganges populations showed marked reductions in shoot Zn and Fe concentrations, although Cd accumulation was not inhibited by elevated Zn; in the other five populations, 30 µM Cd had little or no effect on Zn or Fe accumulation but markedly reduced shoot Ca concentration. These results support a proposal that Cd is taken up predominantly via a high‐affinity uptake system for Fe in the Ganges populations, but via a lower‐affinity pathway for Ca in other populations. Total shoot Cd accumulated per plant was much more closely related to population Cd tolerance than Cd hyperaccumulation, indicating that metal tolerance may be the more important selection criterion in developing lines with greatest phytoremediation potential.     

Differentiation of metallicolous and non‐metallicolous Salix caprea populations based on phenotypic characteristics and nuclear microsatellite (SSR) markers

The Salicaceae family comprises a large number of high‐biomass species with remarkable genetic variability and adaptation to ecological niches. Salix caprea survives in heavy metal contaminated areas, translocates and accumulates Zn/Cd in leaves. To reveal potential selective effects of long‐term heavy metal contaminations on the genetic structure and Zn/Cd accumulation capacity, 170 S. caprea isolates of four metal‐contaminated and three non‐contaminated middle European sites were analysed with microsatellite markers using Wright's F statistics. The differentiation of populations North of the Alps are more pronounced compared to the Southern ones. By grouping the isolates based on their contamination status, a weak but significant differentiation was calculated between Northern metallicolous and non‐metallicolous populations. To quantify if the contamination and genetic status of the populations correlate with Zn/Cd tolerance and the accumulation capacity, the S. caprea isolates were exposed to elevated Cd/Zn concentrations in perlite‐based cultures. Consistent with the genetic data nested anova analyses for the physiological traits find a significant difference in the Cd accumulation capacity between the Northern and Southern populations. Our data suggest that natural populations are a profitable source to uncover genetic mechanisms of heavy metal accumulation and biomass production, traits that are essential for improving phytoextraction strategies.     

Cd speciation and localization in the hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri

Arabidopsis halleri is a model plant investigated for Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation. In this work, A. halleri plants from metallicolous origin exposed to Cd and Zn were studied using an original combination of chemical and physical techniques to obtain insights on Cd hyperaccumulation mechanisms. In most cases, Zn and Cd accumulation in leaves increased with time and with their respective concentrations in hydroponics. At the rosette scale, ¹⁰⁹Cd autoradiography showed that the amount of Cd increased with time but there was no clear trend in the localization of Cd in young or mature leaves. At the leaf scale, an enrichment of the petiole, central vein and trichomes was observed after 3 weeks. After 9 weeks, leaf edges were the most Cd-enriched tissues, and regions along leaf vascular bundles appeared less concentrated. Bulk Cd K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy showed that Cd was predominantly bound to COOH/OH groups belonging to organic acids and/or cell wall components. Cd bound to thiol groups was found as a secondary species (less than 25%). Thiols ligands might correspond, at least partly, to glutathione found in significant amount in aerial parts, but phytochelatins were not detected. These results show that the mechanisms of Cd storage and detoxification in A. halleri differ from what was previously found for Zn.     

The distribution of cadmium,copper, lead,zinc and calcium in the tissues of the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus sampled from one uncontaminated and four polluted soils

Summary The tissue distribution of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Ca in the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus living in non-polluted and heavy-metal polluted soils was investigated. Cd, Pb and Zn were primarily accumulated within the posterior alimentary canal. As the whole-worm Pb burden increased, the proportion of the metal accumulated within this tissue fraction increased. A similar pattern was found for Zn. By contrast, 70%–76% of the Cd burden was found in the posterior alimentary canal, irrespective of the whole-worm Cd content. The accumulation of Cd, Pb and Zn primarily in the posterior alimentary canal prevents dissemination of large concentrations of these metals into other earthworm tissues, and may thus represent a dextoxification strategy based on accumulative immobilisation. Cu was distributed fairly evenly in the tissue fractions investigated. There was no evidence of sequestration of this metal. The apparent lack of a detoxification strategy may contribute to the well-known susceptibility of earthworms to low environmental Cu concentrations. Indeed, earthworms from the site of highest soil Cu (Ecton) were markedly smaller than those from the other sites sampled. The highest Ca concentrations were found in the anterior alimentary canal, and were related to calciferous gland activity. A large proportion of Ca was also stored as a physiologically available pool in the posterior alimentary canal. Despite huge variations in soil Ca concentrations, the body wall Ca levels were fairly similar in L. rubellus from all the study sites. Thus, L. rubellus may become physiologically adapted to soils of exceptionally low Ca concentration. The observations are discussed in the context of the merits of analysing specific tissues, rather than whole organisms, for the purpose of monitoring metal bioaccumulation.     

EFFECTS OF INOCULATION WITH ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ON MAIZE GROWN IN MULTI-METAL CONTAMINATED SOILS

Pot culture experiments were established to determine the effects of colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus mosseae and G. sp) on maize (Zea mays L.) grown in Pb, Zn, and Cd complex contaminated soils. AMF and non-AMF inoculated maize were grown in sterilized substrates and subjected to different soil heavy metal (Pb, Zn, Cd) concentrations. The root and shoot biomasses of inoculated maize were significantly higher than those of non-inoculated maize. Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations in roots were significantly higher than those in shoots in both the inoculated and non-inoculated maize, indicating the heavy metals mostly accumulated in the roots of maize. The translocation rates of Pb, Zn, and Cd from roots to shoots were not significantly difference between inoculated and non-inoculated maize. However, at high soil heavy metal concentrations, Pb, Zn, and Cd in the shoots and Pb in the roots of inoculated maize were significantly reduced by about 50% compared to the non-inoculated maize. These results indicated that AMF could promote maize growth and decrease the uptake of these heavy metals at higher soil concentrations, thus protecting their hosts from the toxicity of heavy metals in Pb, Zn, and Cd complex contaminated soils.     

Fate of heavy metals in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating secondary treated petroleum refinery wastewater in Kaduna,Nigeria

This study examined the performance of pilot-scale vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSF–CWs) planted with three indigenous plants, i.e. Typha latifolia, Cyperus alternifolius, and Cynodon dactylon, in removing heavy metals from secondary treated refinery wastewater under tropical conditions. The T. latifolia-planted VSF–CW had the best heavy metal removal performance, followed by the Cyperus alternifolius-planted VSF–CW and then the Cynodon dactylon-planted VSF–CW. The data indicated that Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Fe were accumulated in the plants at all the three VSF–CWs. However, the accumulation of the heavy metals in the plants accounted for only a rather small fraction (0.09–16%) of the overall heavy metal removal by the wetlands. The plant roots accumulated the highest amount of heavy metals, followed by the leaves, and then the stem. Cr and Fe were mainly retained in the roots of T. latifolia, Cyperus alternifolius, and Cynodon dactylon (TF < 1), meaning that Cr and Fe were only partially transported to the leaves of these plants. This study showed that VSF–CWs planted with T. latifolia, Cyperus Alternifolius, and Cynodon dactylon can be used for the large-scale removal of heavy metals from secondary refinery wastewater.     

Phytotoxic Effects of Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu and Fe on Sinapis Alba L. Seedlings and their Accumulation in Roots and Shoots

The inhibitory effects of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Fe on root elongation, contents of photosynthetic pigments, and metal accumulation in the roots and shoots of Sinapis alba were assessed. On the basis of growth inhibition metals can be arranged in a order Cu > Cd > Fe = Zn > Pb. All the metals, except Fe, were accumulated in significantly higher amount in the roots than in the shoots. Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb reduced chlorophyll a, and especially chlorophyll b content, and Zn and Pb reduced the carotenoid content, but less than that of chlorophyll a+b. The plants contained the highest concentration of Cd, and the lowest concentration of Zn.     

Leaf-applied sodium chloride promotes cadmium accumulation in durum wheat grain

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in durum wheat grain is a growing concern. Among the factors affecting Cd accumulation in plants, soil chloride (Cl) concentration plays a critical role. The effect of leaf NaCl application on grain Cd was studied in greenhouse-grown durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. durum, cv. Balcali-2000) by immersing (10 s) intact flag leaves into Cd and/or NaCl-containing solutions for 14 times during heading and dough stages. Immersing flag leaves in solutions containing increasing amount of Cd resulted in substantial increases in grain Cd concentration. Adding NaCl alone or in combination with the Cd-containing immersion solution promoted accumulation of Cd in the grains, by up to 41%. In contrast, Zn concentrations of grains were not affected or even decreased by the NaCl treatments. This is likely due to the effect of Cl complexing Cd and reducing positive charge on the metal ion, an effect that is much smaller for Zn. Charge reduction or removal (CdCl₂⁰ species) would increase the diffusivity/lipophilicity of Cd and enhance its capability to penetrate the leaf epidermis and across membranes. Of even more significance to human health was the ability of Cl alone to penetrate leaf tissue and mobilize and enhance shoot Cd transfer to grains, yet reducing or not affecting Zn transfer.