Screening ornamental plants to identify potential Cd hyperaccumulators for bioremediation

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Plant Biology
• Bioremediation

Background:

• Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses environmental risks.
• Identifying plants capable of accumulating and tolerating Cd is crucial for phytoremediation.
• Ornamental plants are often overlooked for their potential in heavy metal uptake.

Purpose of the Study:

• To screen ornamental plant species for cadmium (Cd) accumulation and translocation capabilities.
• To identify potential Cd hyperaccumulators among ornamental plants for phytoremediation.
• To assess plant tolerance and biomass production under varying Cd concentrations.

Main Methods:

• A pot experiment was conducted with seven ornamental plant species exposed to increasing Cd concentrations (0-100 mg/kg).
• Measurements included shoot and root biomass, plant height, and tolerance index (TI).
• Cadmium accumulation, bioaccumulation coefficients (BCFs), and translocation factors (TFs) were analyzed in selected plants.

Main Results:

• Malva rotundifolia exhibited high Cd tolerance and significant biomass production.
• Other species like Malva crispa, Sida rhombifolia, Celosia argentea, and Celosia cristata showed medium tolerance.
• Malva rotundifolia accumulated over 200 mg/kg Cd in roots and 900 mg/kg in shoots, with BCFs and TFs exceeding 1.0.

Conclusions:

• Malva rotundifolia is identified as a model hyperaccumulator due to its high Cd accumulation capacity and translocation efficiency.
• The study highlights the potential of Malva rotundifolia for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils.
• Ornamental plants can be valuable candidates for developing effective phytoremediation strategies.