Growth and survival of Halimione portulacoides stem cuttings in heavy metal contaminated soils

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2013-10, Vol.75 (1-2), p.28-32
• Main Authors: Andrades-Moreno, L., Cambrollé, J., Figueroa, M.E., Mateos-Naranjo, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Amaranthaceae - growth & development; Amaranthaceae - metabolism; Amaranthaceae - physiology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Chips; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Conductance; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Contamination; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment and pollution; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; habitats; Halimione portulacoides; halophytes; Heavy metals; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; metal tolerance; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Photosynthesis; Photosynthesis - physiology; Phytoremediation; pigments; polluted soils; Pollution abatement; Salt-Tolerant Plants - physiology; shrubs; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soils; Stem cuttings; stomatal conductance; Survival; Terrestrial environment, soil, air; tissues; Tolerances; Uptakes; water pollution; Wetlands; Wetlands restoration
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.015

•We evaluate the metal tolerance of Halimione portulacoides stem cuttings.•H. portulacoides cuttings can grow under extremely high concentrations of metals.•H. portulacoides cuttings may be useful in the restoration of metal-polluted soils. The halophytic shrub Halimione portulacoides demonstrates a high tolerance to heavy metal contamination and a capacity for accumulating metals within its tissues. On the Iberian Peninsula, this species has colonized habitats with high levels of metal pollution. The aim of this study is to analyze the response of H. portulacoides stem cuttings to this pollution. Growth, photosynthesis and metal uptake were examined in H. portulacoides through an experiment in which stem cuttings were replanted in metal-contaminated soil. This condition decreased growth and lowered both photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. Reduced photosynthetic performance was largely due to the reduced concentration of photosynthetic pigments. Despite these responses, there was some important evidence suggesting the phytoremediatory potential of Halimione stem cuttings. The results of our study indicate that this salt-marsh shrub may represent a biotool of value in the restoration of polluted areas.