Cadmium phytoextraction potential of different Alyssum species

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2011-11, Vol.196, p.66-72
• Main Authors: Barzanti, R., Colzi, I., Arnetoli, M., Gallo, A., Pignattelli, S., Gabbrielli, R., Gonnelli, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation; Affinity; Alyssum; Alyssum bertolonii; Alyssum montanum; Applied sciences; Asbestos, Serpentine - chemistry; Biodegradation, Environmental; Brassicaceae - growth & development; Brassicaceae - metabolism; Cadmium; Cadmium Compounds - isolation & purification; Cadmium Compounds - metabolism; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Exact sciences and technology; field experimentation; hydroponics; nickel; phenotype; Phytoextraction; Phytoremediation; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Roots - metabolism; polluted soils; Pollution; Populations; Serpentine; serpentine soils; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - isolation & purification; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Soils; Species Specificity; Sulfates - isolation & purification; Sulfates - metabolism; Tolerance; Tolerances; Uptakes
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.08.075

► The possibility of using serpentine plants for phytoextraction of Cd was investigated. ► Variation in Cd tolerance, accumulation and translocation in three Alyssum plants with different phenotypes were found. ► Alyssum montanum showed higher Cd tolerance and accumulation than the Ni hyperaccumulator Alyssum bertolonii. ► As for the kinetic parameters of the Cd uptake system, A. montanum presented a low apparent K m value. ► The V max values were not significantly different among the plants. This work was planned for providing useful information about the possibility of using serpentine adapted plants for phytoextraction of cadmium, element scarcely represented in such metalliferous environment. To this aim, we investigated variation in cadmium tolerance, accumulation and translocation in three Alyssum plants with different phenotypes: Alyssum bertolonii, that is a serpentine endemic nickel hyperaccumulator, and two populations of Alyssum montanum, one adapted and one not adapted to serpentine soils. Plants were hydroponically cultivated in presence of increasing concentrations of CdSO 4 for two weeks. For the metal concentration used in the experiments, the three different Alyssum populations showed variation in cadmium tolerance, accumulation and content. The serpentine adapted population of A. montanum showed statistically higher cadmium tolerance and accumulation than A. bertolonii and the population of A. montanum not adapted to serpentine soil thus deserving to be investigated for phytoextraction purposes. Furthermore, as for the kinetic parameters of the cadmium uptake system, A. montanum serpentine population presented a low apparent K m value, suggesting a high affinity for this metal of its uptake system, whereas the V max values were not significantly different among the plants. Present data revealed metallicolous plants are also suitable for the phytoremediation of metals underrepresented in the environment of their initial origin. Nonetheless, field trials on real contaminated soils are essential.