Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with cadmium, copper and polychlorinated biphenyls

A pot experiment and afield trial were conducted to study the remediation of an aged field soil contaminated with cadmium, copper and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (7.67 +/- 0.51 mg kg(-1) Cd, 369 +/- 1 mg kg(-1) Cu in pot experiment; 8.46 +/- 0.31 mg kg(-1) Cd, 468 +/- 7 mg kg(-1) Cu, 323 +/- 12 microg kg(-1) PCBs for field experiment) under different cropping patterns. In the pot experiment Sedum plumbizincicola showed pronounced Cd phytoextraction. After two periods (14 months) of cropping the Cd removal rates in these two treatments were 52.2 +/- 12.0 and 56.1 +/- 9.1%, respectively. Total soil PCBs in unplanted control pots decreased from 323 +/- 11 to 49.3 +/- 6.6 microg kg(-1), but with no significant difference between treatments. The field microcosm experiment intercropping of three plant species reduced the yield of S. plumbizincicola, with a consequent decrease in soil Cd removal. S. plumbizincicola intercropped with E. splendens had the highest shoot Cd uptake (18.5 +/- 1.8 mg pot(-1)) after 6 months planting followed by intercropping with M. sativa (15.9 +/- 1.9 mg pot(-1)). Liming with S. plumbizincicola intercropped with M. sativa significantly promoted soil PCB degradation by 25.2%. Thus, adjustment of soil pH to 5.56 combined with intercropping with S. plumbizincicola and M. sativagave high removal rates of Cd, Cu, and PCBs.     

不同类型污染土壤中赤子爱胜蚓对伴矿景天重金属吸收的影响初报

伴矿景天Sedum plumbizincicola是我国发现和报道的镉/锌(Cd/Zn)超积累植物,在土壤Cd污染修复方面已开展实际应用。由于超积累植物伴矿景天在不同类型土壤下的生长能力以及对镉锌的去除效果存在较大差异,因此需引入强化修复技术为植物修复提供辅助作用。作为大型土壤动物,蚯蚓对植物生长的促进作用已有较多研究,但其对伴矿景天生长和重金属吸取效率的影响则鲜有报道,为探究赤子爱胜蚓对不同类型土壤种植下的伴矿景天是否具有强化修复效应,以及不同类型土壤下的强化修复效应差异,设计以下盆栽试验。通过在常湿淋溶土(Perudic Luvisols)、水耕人为土(Stagnic Anthrosols)、湿润雏形土(Udic Cambisols)3种土壤上种植伴矿景天、引入赤子爱胜蚓Eisenia foetida,探究赤子爱胜蚓对伴矿景天生长及Cd/Zn吸收性的影响。选取Cd有效性较高、修复潜力较大的水耕人为土(Stagnic Anthrosols)进行第二季盆栽修复试验。第一季修复结果显示,在酸性的常湿淋溶土中,添加赤子爱胜蚓使伴矿景天地上部生物量较对照处理增加了106%,Cd和Zn吸收量分别提高了72.0%和36.0%,且蚯蚓结合伴矿景天的处理修复后土壤Cd有效性进一步降低,其余两种土壤仅添加蚯蚓无强化修复效应;第二季结果显示,同时添加秸秆和蚯蚓,可强化中性的水耕人为土上种植的伴矿景天生长,增大植物地上部生物量和Cd/Zn吸收量。结果表明,添加蚯蚓可增强伴矿景天在常湿淋溶土中的养分吸收,提高生物量,以此强化其修复效应。在水耕人为土中,外加秸秆可作为蚯蚓强化伴矿景天修复的配套技术。     

Long-term field phytoextraction of zinc/cadmium contaminated soil by Sedum plumbizincicola under different agronomic strategies

In two long-term field experiments the zinc (Zn)/cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola (S. plumbizincicola) was examined to optimize the phytoextraction of metal contaminated soil by two agronomic strategies of intercropping with maize (Zea mays) and plant densities. Soil total Zn and Cd concentrations decreased markedly after long-term phytoextraction. But shoot biomass and Cd and Zn concentrations showed no significant difference with increasing remediation time. In the intercropping experiment the phytoremediation efficiency in the treatment “S. plumbizincicola intercropped with maize” was higher than in S. plumbizincicola monocropping, and Cd concentrations of corn were below the maximum national limit. In the plant density experiment the phytoremediation efficiency increased with increasing plant density and 440,000 plants ha^?1 gave the maximum rate. These results indicated that S. plumbizincicola at an appropriate planting density and intercropped with maize can achieve high remediation efficiency to contaminated soil without affecting the cereal crop productivity. This cropping system combines adequate agricultural production with soil heavy metal phytoextraction.     

改良剂对酸性土壤上伴矿景天铝毒缓解作用及镉锌吸收性的影响

为探究不同改良剂对酸性土壤铝(Al)胁迫条件下镉(Cd)锌(Zn)超积累植物伴矿景天Sedum plumbizincicola生长以及镉和锌吸取修复效率的影响,分别添加不同种类改良剂(钙镁磷肥(CMP)、MgCO3、KH2PO4)和不同浓度CMP进行温室盆栽试验。结果表明,CMP能够一定程度上提高土壤pH值并降低土壤交换性Al的浓度,MgCO3能够显著提高土壤pH值和降低土壤交换性Al的浓度,KH2PO4能够降低土壤中交换性Al浓度但未改变土壤pH值。施用适量的CMP(9.39 mg/kg)能够提高伴矿景天生物量和Cd、Zn吸取修复效率,用量过高会抑制伴矿景天生长和Cd、Zn修复效率;施用MgCO3可增大伴矿景天生物量和Cd、Zn修复效率,施用KH2PO4反而抑制了伴矿景天生长。酸性土壤上施用适量的CMP和MgCO3能够缓解伴矿景天的铝毒作用,维持较高的重金属吸收效率。     

伴矿景天-水稻轮作及磷修复剂对水稻锌镉吸收的影响

采用盆栽试验,将锌镉超积累植物伴矿景天与镉低积累水稻中香1号轮作种植于重金属污染土壤,并向土壤添加钙镁磷肥和磷矿粉,研究两种磷修复剂对伴矿景天和镉低积累水稻生长及地上部重金属积累性的影响.盆栽试验结果表明,在轻污染土壤上施用50 g·kg^-1磷矿粉时伴矿景天地上部的Zn、Cd吸收量分别达到每盆11.5 和0.79 mg,效果好于施用4 g·kg^-1钙镁磷肥处理.在重金属污染土壤上种植伴矿景天使后茬水稻地上部Zn、Cd浓度上升,但钙镁磷肥的施用显著降低了水稻体内的Zn、Cd积累量.种植伴矿景天后添加钙镁磷肥稳定调控剂对土壤中水溶态及NH₄OAc提取态Zn、Cd的稳定效果明显优于磷矿粉,且在高污染土壤上效果更佳.田间试验结果显示,施用钙镁磷肥不仅可增加水稻产量,且可一定程度上降低水稻地上部的Zn、Cd吸收量.     

Effects of organic amendments on Cd, Zn and Cu bioavailability in soil with repeated phytoremediation by Sedum plumbizincicola

Organic materials with different functional groups can be used to enhance metal bioavailability. Traditional organic materials (rice straw and clover) and ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) were applied to enhance metal uptake from polluted soil by Sedum plumbizincicola after repeated phytoextraction. Changes in pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and metal concentrations were determined in the soil solution after EDDS application. Amendment of the soil with ground rice straw or ground clove resulted in higher concentrations of Cd only (by factors of 1.92 and 1.71 respectively) in S. plumbizincicola compared to control soil. Treatment with 3 mmol kg(-1) EDDS increased all the metals studied by factors of 60.4, 1.67, and 0.27 for Cu, Cd, and Zn, respectively. EDDS significantly increased soil solution DOC and pH and increased soil plant-available metals above the amounts that the plants could take up, resulting in high soil concentrations of soluble metals and high risk of ground water contamination. After repeated phytoremediation of metal contaminated soils the efficiency of metal removal declines as the concentrations of bioavailable metal fractions decline. Traditional organic materials can therefore be much more effective and environmentally friendly amendments than EDDS in enhancing phytoremediation efficiency of Cd contaminated soil     

Phytoextraction potential of soils highly polluted with cadmium using the cadmium/zinc hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola

Abstract

A three-crop repeated phytoextraction experiment was conducted using four soils (S1–S4) highly polluted with cadmium (Cd) and two enhanced phytoextraction pot experiments using the most polluted soil (S4) to investigate the feasibility of Cd removal from highly polluted soils using the Cd/zinc (Zn)-hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola. Shoot biomass showed no significant difference during the repeated phytoextraction experiment on the four test soils and shoot Cd content showed a decreasing trend with the three consecutive crops in soils S1, S2, and S3 but not in soil S4. The Cd removal rates in soils S1, S2, S3, and S4 were 84.5, 81.6, 45.3, and 32.4%, respectively. Rice straw application increased Cd extraction efficiency by 42.6% but the addition of ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, biochar or nitrogen had no effect on Cd remediation. Shoot Cd content increased significantly (1.57 and 1.71 times, respectively) at low (S₀-1) and high (S₀-2) sulfur addition rates. Soil extractable-Cd in S₀-1 after the experiment showed no significant difference from the control but was 2.43 times higher in S₀-2 than in the control. These results indicate that S. plumbizincicola shows good prospects for the phytoextraction of Cd from highly polluted soils and that the process can be enhanced by adding straw and/or sulfur to the soil.     

Predictability of the Zn and Cd phytoextraction efficiency of a Salix smithiana clone by DGT and conventional bioavailability assays

Aims

Phytomanagement of metal-polluted soils requires information on plant responses to metal availability in soil, but the predictability of metal accumulation in plant shoots and/or roots may be limited by metal toxicity and inherent shortfalls of the bioavailability assays.

Methods

We measured the uptake of Cd and Zn in a Salix smithiana clone grown in a pot experiment on soils with different characteristics and metal availabilities, determined by conventional soil single extractions (0.05 M Na₂-EDTA and 1 M NH₄NO₃), soil solution obtained by centrifugation, and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT). The Cd and Zn phytoavailability after a 2-year phytoextraction by willow was assessed by metal accumulation in the straw of the following barley culture.

Results

The phytoextraction efficiency was largest on a moderately polluted acid soil. Biomass and shoot Zn concentrations of S. smithiana were better predicted by DGT-measured Zn concentrations in soil solution (C _DGT) than by Zn concentrations in the soil solution and extractable soil fractions. The weaker correlation for Cd in shoots may be related to relative Cd enrichment in the plant tissues. The metal accumulation in barley straw was unaffected or increased after a 2-year phytoextraction.

Conclusions

The shoot Zn and Cd removal of the tested Salix clone can be predicted by C _DGT concentrations and is highest on either calcareous or moderately polluted acid soils. Single extraction with NH₄NO₃ and the C _DGT value of Cd were not able to predict shoot Cd removal on the tested soils. Only shoot removal of Zn was predicted fairly well by the C _DGT value.     

Heavy metal uptake by arbuscular mycorrhizas of Elsholtzia splendens and the potential for phytoremediation of contaminated soil

A pot culture experiment and a field experiment were carried out separately to study heavy metal (HM) uptake from soil contaminated with Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd by Elsholtzia splendens Nakai ex F. Maekawa inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and the potential for phytoremediation. The HM-contaminated soil in the pot experiment was collected from the field experiment site. Two AM fungal inocula, MI containing only one AM fungal strain, Glomus caledonium 90036, and M II consisting of Gigaspora margarita ZJ37, Gigaspora decipens ZJ38, Scutellospora gilmori ZJ39, Acaulospora spp. andGlomus spp., were applied to the soil under unsterilized conditions. In the pot experiment, the plants were harvested after 24 weeks of growth. Mycorrhizal colonization rate, plant dry weight (DW) and P, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd concentrations were determined. MI-treated plants had higher mycorrhizal colonization rates than MII-treated plants. Both MI and MII increased shoot and root DW, and MII was more effective than MI. In shoots, the highest P, Cu, Zn and Pb concentrations were all observed in the plants treated with MII, while MI decreased Zn and Pb concentrations and increased P but did not alter Cu, and Cd concentrations were not affected by either of two inocula. In roots, MII increased P, Zn, Pb concentrations but did not alter Cu and Cd, and MI did not affect P, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd concentrations. Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd uptake into shoots and roots all increased in MII-treated plants, while in MI-treated plants, Cu and Zn uptake into shoots and Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd into roots increased but Pb and Cd uptake into shoots decreased. In general, MII was more effective than MI in promoting plant growth and HM uptake. The field experiment following the pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of MII under field conditions. The 45-day-old nonmycorrhizal and MII-colonized seedlings of E. splendens were transplanted to HM-contaminated plots and harvested after 5 months. MII-inoculation increased shoot DW and shoot P, Cu, Zn, Pb concentrations significantly but did not alter shoot Cd concentrations, which led to higher uptake of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd by E. splendens shoots. These results indicate that the AM fungal consortium represented by MII can benefit phytoextraction of HMs and therefore play a role in phytoremediation of HM-contaminated soils.     

超积累植物东南景天根际可溶性有机质对土壤锌吸附解吸的影响

采用盆栽和模拟试验研究了锌超积累植物东南景天根际土壤可溶性有机质(DOM)对土壤锌吸附解吸的影响.结果表明: 采用矿山土壤种植锌超积累植物东南景天后,根际土壤水溶性锌和乙酸铵提取态锌含量显著降低,而非根际土壤有效锌无明显变化.与不种植东南景天的对照土壤相比,根际土壤pH值降低了0.3个单位,有机质和DOM含量分别提高13.6%和20.9%.东南景天根际DOM对土壤锌吸附解吸的影响方式和程度与土壤类型有关.与对照DOM相比,在矿山土、黄筋泥和黄松土中,添加根际DOM使锌的最大吸附量(X_m)分别降低了17.8%、21.9%和27.7%,而非根际DOM对锌的最大吸附量没有影响.在3种供试土壤中添加根际DOM促进了锌的解吸,其中以黄松土最明显.东南景天根际DOM能降低土壤锌吸附容量,减少土壤对锌的吸附,促进吸附态锌的解吸,从而提高了根际锌的生物有效性.     

Feasibility of Using Phytoextraction to Remediate a Compost-Based Soil Contaminated with Cadmium

Greenhouse and in-situ field experiments were used to determine the potential for phytoextraction to remediate soil contaminated with Cd from municipal solid waste (MSW) and sewage sludge (SS) compost application at a Peterborough (Canada) site. For the greenhouse experiment, one native (Chenopodium album) and three naturalized (Poa compressa, Brassica juncea, Helianthus annuus) plant species were planted in soil containing no detectable Cd (<1.0 μg·g^?1), and soil from the site containing low (5.0 ± 0.3 μg·g^?1 Cd), and high (16.5 ± 1.2 μg?g^?1 Cd) Cd concentrations. Plant uptake was low (root BAFs ≤0.5) for all species except P. compressa in the low Cd treatment (BAF 1.0). Only B. juncea accumulated Cd in its shoots, though uptake was low (BAF ≤0.3). For the field experiment, B. juncea was planted in-situ in areas of low and high Cd concentrations. Brassica juncea Cd uptake was low (root and shoot BAFs <0.2) in both treatments. Sequential extraction analysis indicated that Cd is retained primarily by low bioavailability soil fractions, and phytoextraction is therefore not feasible at this site. Though low Cd bioavailability has negative implications for Cd phytoextraction from MSW/SS compost-based soils, it may limit receptor exposure to Cd sufficiently to eliminate the potential for risk at this site.     

Ammonium Nutrition as a Strategy for Cadmium Mobilisation in the Rhizosphere of Sunflower

Ammonium nutrition of higher plants results in rhizosphere acidification due to proton excretion by root cells. The acidification induced by ammonium-fed plants can be exploited to promote a localised metal mobilisation in neutral to alkaline polluted soils and therefore to improve phytoextraction. The effects of ammonium uptake by sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants on the external medium pH, aerial and root growth and tolerance to soluble Cd were studied in hydroponic culture. The ammonium-fed sunflowers induced a strong acidification of the solution and, compared to the nitrate-fed sunflowers, a small modification in mineral nutrition and a different Cd partitioning between root and shoot. Moreover, ammonium nutrition was found to induce a great mobilisation of a sparingly soluble form of cadmium (CdCO₃). A pot experiment studied the ability of different ammonium-based fertilisers (ammonium sulphate, ammonium thiosulphate, urea) to modify bulk and rhizo-soil pH, compared to the effect of calcium nitrate and to the unfertilised soil. Furthermore, in order to promote the persistence of ammonium in soil, a combined treatment of ammonium sulphate and DMPP, a nitrification inhibitor, was tested. Soil pH was strongly modified by chemical and biological processes involved in fertiliser transformations. In particular, due to nitrification, all ammonium-based treatments showed a bulk soil acidification of over 1.5 pH units and a relative increase in rhizo-soil pH as a consequence of nitrate uptake. The treatment with DMPP showed an opposite trend with a lower pH in rhizo-soil than in bulk soil. The ability of ammonium-fed plants to mobilise heavy metals from the non-labile pool was studied in another pot experiment using three soils with different properties and at different degree and type of heavy metal contamination. Whatever the soil, the metal concentrations in shoots were higher in plants fed with ammonium (ammonium sulphate plus DMPP treatment). Our results support the hypothesis that ammonium nutrition with nitrification inhibitors is a viable strategy to improve heavy metals phytoextraction while protecting bulk soil from acidification and presumably from metal leaching. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Cadmium and zinc in plants and soil solutions from contaminated soils

In an experiment using ten heavy metal-contaminated soils from six European countries, soil solution was sampled by water displacement before and after the growth of radish. Concentrations of Cd, Zn and other elements in solution (K, Ca, Mg, Mn) generally decreased during plant growth, probably because of uptake by plants and the subsequent redistribution of ions onto soil exchange sites at lower ionic strength. Speciation analysis by a resin exchange method showed that most Cd and Zn in non-rhizosphere solutions was present as Cd2+ and Zn2+, respectively. The proportion of free ions was slightly lower in rhizosphere solutions, mainly due to an increase in dissolved organic carbon during plant growth. Solution pH increased during plant growth, although the bulk soil pH generally remained constant. Cd concentrations in leaves and tubers were more closely correlated with their total or free ionic concentrations in rhizosphere solutions (adjusted R2 0.90) than with their concentrations in soils (adj. R2 0.79). Cd concentrations in non-rhizosphere solutions were only poorly correlated with Cd concentrations in leaves and tubers. In contrast to Cd, there were no soil parameters that individually predicted Zn concentrations in leaves and tubers closely. However, multiple correlation analysis (including Zn concentrations in rhizosphere solutions and in bulk soils) closely predicted Zn concentrations in leaves and tubers (adj. R2 = 0.85 and 0.70, respectively). This suggests that the great variability among soils in the solubility of Zn affected the rate of release of Zn into solution, and thus Zn uptake. There was no such effect for Cd, for which solubility varied much less. Furthermore, the plants may have partly controlled Zn uptake, as they took up relatively less at high solution concentrations of Zn.Free ionic concentrations in soil solution did not predict concentrations of Cd or Zn in plants better than their total concentrations in solution. This suggests that with these soils, analysis of Cd and Zn speciation is of little practical importance when their bioavailability is assessed.     

Bioremediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Soil through Cultivation of Maize Inoculated with Plant Growth–Promoting Rhizobacteria

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of single and co-inoculation of Bacillus mycoides and Micrococcus roseus strains, indigenous to heavy metal (HM)–contaminated soils, on the growth and essential-nutrient and Cd uptake of maize in a soil polluted with 100 and 200 mg Cd kg^?1. Increasing Cd levels significantly decreased shoot and root dry weights, and shoot P, Fe, Zn, and Mn uptake. All bacterial treatments significantly increased biomass and shoot nutrient uptake of plant compared with control in the soil polluted with Cd. Inoculation of plants with B. mycoides and consortium of two bacteria significantly increased, whereas M. roseus significantly decreased, shoot and root Cd uptake, and Cd transfer and translocation factors compared with control in Cd-polluted conditions. The results showed that B. mycoides and consortium of two bacteria had an effective role in phytoextraction and M. roseus was the most effective treatment in phytostabilization of Cd.     

两种典型土壤胶体对镉的生物有效性的影响

采用黑麦草盆栽试验,研究了人工Cd污染(10.91mg·kg-1)黄棕壤和红壤(简称原土)及其胶体组分(简称胶体)和去胶后组分(简称去胶)Cd的生物有效性,并研究了EDTA对Cd解吸和生物有效性的影响.结果表明:(1)各处理黑麦草株高、地上部干重、根干重、总生物量都表现为胶体＞原土＞去胶,胶体上总生物量分别是原土和去胶处理的(1.31±0.02)倍和(1.82±0 21)倍.(2)黑麦草体内Cd浓度、及其对Cd的富集系数都表现为胶体＜原土＜去胶,表明胶体中Cd的生物有效性＜原土＜去胶.(3)黄棕壤各组分Cd的解吸率分别表现为胶体和原土约为0,去胶组分为(10.5±3.5)%,红壤各组分平均为(20.8±1 9)%,但加入EDTA则明显增加了Cd的解吸,导致黑麦草体内Cd浓度显著增加,黑麦草地上部干重、根干重、总生物量降低.EDTA对Cd的活化作用表现为去胶＞原土＞胶体,黄棕壤＞红壤,EDTA对各处理植株Cd总量的影响与此吻合.这说明,土壤镉的生物有效性受土壤胶体及其pH等的强烈影响.     

N、P、K肥对香根草修复土壤镉、锌污染效率的影响

通过盆栽试验研究在30 mg/kg镉(Cd)污染土壤条件下N[CO(NH2)2:100、200、300 mg/kg土]、P(P2O5:50、100、200 mg/kg土)和K(KCl:100、200、300 mg/kg土)处理对香根草修复土壤Cd和锌(Zn)污染效率的影响。结果表明:3种N处理能促进香根草地上部生长,而且显著提高地上部特别是叶的Cd和Zn含量,导致其修复效率成倍显著增加;200 mg/kg K处理显著提高Zn修复效率,但300 mg/kg K和50、200 mg/kg P处理却显著降低Cd、Zn修复效率。因此,为改善香根草对较贫瘠土壤中Cd、Zn污染的修复效率,应对香根草适施N肥,并控制或者不施P、K肥为佳。     

Culturable bacteria from Zn‐ and Cd‐accumulating Salix caprea with differential effects on plant growth and heavy metal availability

Aims: To characterize bacteria associated with Zn/Cd‐accumulating Salix caprea regarding their potential to support heavy metal phytoextraction. Methods and Results: Three different media allowed the isolation of 44 rhizosphere strains and 44 endophytes, resistant to Zn/Cd and mostly affiliated with Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi. 1‐Aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid deaminase (ACCD), indole acetic acid and siderophore production were detected in 41, 23 and 50% of the rhizosphere isolates and in 9, 55 and 2% of the endophytes, respectively. Fifteen rhizosphere bacteria and five endophytes were further tested for the production of metal‐mobilizing metabolites by extracting contaminated soil with filtrates from liquid cultures. Four Actinobacteria mobilized Zn and/or Cd. The other strains immobilized Cd or both metals. An ACCD‐ and siderophore‐producing, Zn/Cd‐immobilizing rhizosphere isolate (Burkholderia sp.) and a Zn/Cd‐mobilizing Actinobacterium endophyte were inoculated onto S. caprea. The rhizosphere isolate reduced metal uptake in roots, whereas the endophyte enhanced metal accumulation in leaves. Plant growth was not promoted. Conclusions: Metal mobilization experiments predicted bacterial effects on S. caprea more reliably than standard tests for plant growth‐promoting activities. Significance and Impact of the Study: Bacteria, particularly Actinobacteria, associated with heavy metal‐accumulating Salix have the potential to increase metal uptake, which can be predicted by mobilization experiments and may be applicable in phytoremediation.     

Soil pH Effects on Uptake of Cd and Zn by Thlaspi caerulescens

For phytoextraction to be successful and viable in environmental remediation, strategies that can optimize plant uptake must be identified. Thlaspi caerulescens is an important hyperaccumulator of Cd and Zn, whether adjusting soil pH is an efficient way to enhance metal uptake by T. caerulescens must by clarified. This study used two soils differing in levels of Cd and Zn, which were adjusted to six different pH levels. Thlaspi caerulescens tissue metal concentrations and 0.1 M Sr(NO₃)₂ extractable soil metal concentrations were measured. The soluble metal form of both Cd and Zn was greatly increased with decreasing pH. Lowering pH significantly influenced plant metal uptake. For the high metal soil, highest plant biomass was at the lowest soil pH (4.74). The highest shoot metal concentration was at the second lowest pH (5.27). For low metal soil, due to low pH induced Al and Mn toxicity, both plant growth and metal uptake was greatest at intermediate pH levels. The extraordinary Cd phytoextraction ability of T. caerulescens was further demonstrated in this experiment. In the optimum pH treatments, Thlaspi caerulescens extracted 40% and 36% of total Cd in the low and high metal soils, respectively, with just one planting. Overall, decreasing pH is an effective strategy to enhance phytoextraction. But different soils had various responses to acidification treatment and a different optimum pH may exist. This pH should be identified to avoid unnecessarily extreme acidification of soils.     

Arbuscular mycorrhiza decreases cadmium phytoextraction by transgenic tobacco with inserted metallothionein

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) on the phytoextraction efficiency of transgenic tobacco with increased ability to tolerate and accumulate cadmium (Cd) was tested in a pot experiment. The tobacco plants bearing the yeast metallothionein CUP1 combined with a polyhistidine cluster were compared to non-transgenic tobacco of the same variety at four Cd concentrations in soil, non-inoculated or inoculated with two isolates of the AM fungus Glomus intraradices. Mycorrhizal inoculation improved the growth of both the transgenic and non-transgenic tobacco and decreased Cd concentrations in shoots and root to shoot translocation. Differences were found between the two AM fungal isolates: one isolate supported more efficient phosphorus uptake and plant growth in the soil without Cd addition, while the other isolate alleviated the inhibitory effect of cadmium on plant growth. The resulting effect of inoculation on Cd accumulation was dependent on Cd level in soil and differed between the more Cd tolerant transgenic plants and the less tolerant non-transgenic plants. Mycorrhiza mostly decreased the phytoextraction efficiency of transgenic plants while increased that of non-transgenic plants at Cd levels in soil inhibitory to tobacco growth. Mechanisms of the observed effects of inoculation on growth and Cd uptake are discussed as well as the possible implications of the results for the exploitation of AM in phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils.     

Hyperaccumulation of metals by Thlaspi caerulescens as affected by root development and Cd-Zn/Ca-Mg interactions

The aim of this work was to study, in a rhizobox experiment, the phytoextraction of metals by the hyperaccumulator plant Thlaspi caerulescens in relation to the heterogeneity of metal pollution. Six treatments were designed with soils containing various levels of metals. Homogeneous soils and inclusions of soils in other soil matrices were prepared in order to vary metal concentration and localization. Growth parameters of the plant (rosette diameter and shoot biomass) and localization of roots and shoot uptake of Zn, Cd, Ca, and Mg were determined after 10 weeks of growth. The plants grown on the polluted industrial soils provided a larger biomass and had lower mortality rates than those grown on the agricultural soil. Moreover, these plants accumulated more Zn and Cd (up to 17,516 and 375 mg kg(-1) DM, respectively) than plants grown on the agricultural soil (up to 7300 mg Zn kg(-1) and 83 mg Cd kg(-1) DM). The roots preferentially explored metal-contaminated areas. The exploration of polluted soil inclusions by the roots was associated with a higher extraction of metals. Zinc and Cd in the shoots of Thlaspi caerulescens were negatively correlated with Ca and Mg concentrations; however, the soil supply for these two elements was identical. This suggests that there is competition for the uptake of these elements and that Zn is preferentially accumulated.