Assessing germination characteristics of Australian native plant species in metal/metalloid solution

Abstract

This study investigated tolerance of Australian native grass species Astrebla lappacea, Themeda australis, and Austrostipa scabra and a tree species Acacia harpophylla to different concentrations of arsenic As(V) (13.34 -667.36 μM), Cu 2+ (0.5 -200 μM), Zn 2+ (9 -500 μM), Mn 2+ (8 -10240 μM) and Pb 2+ (240 -9600 μM) in single solutions in germination experiments. Metal/loid tolerance indicators used were maximum germination percentage (Gmax), mean germination time (MGT), radicle and shoot tolerance indexes (RTI & STI).Radicle tolerance index was the most sensitive indicator of metal tolerance in germinating seeds. All native species were highly tolerant to the metal/loids tested, however, they showed different metal toxicity thresholds and levels of tolerance based on RTI as a metal tolerance indicator during germination. Overall, all four species could be classified as metallophytes, confirming their current suitability for and established use in mine site rehabilitation. This work may also serve as a basis for future studies on metal/loid tolerance of other plant species during germination.

Germination and early seedling development of Helichrysum microphyllum Cambess. subsp. tyrrhenicum Bacch., Brullo & Giusso in the presence of arsenates and arsenites

“…As briefly introduced, germination tests under As(V) stress were mainly carried out for crop plants, like wheat and rice, showing a sensitive reduction in seed germination within the increasing of As levels ( Hossain et al., 2007 ; Liu et al., 2005 ). As far as no crop species, Guterres et al. (2019) showed that some Australian endemic taxa commonly used in local phytoremediation actions, are tolerant towards As(V) during germination.…”

Germinação de espécies forrageiras na presença de cádmio, cobre e chumbo

“…Porcentagem de germinação, índice de vigor e o índice de tolerância podem ser considerados parâmetros que indicam a capacidade de resposta das plantas ao estresse promovido por substratos contaminados. Para GUTERRES et al (2019) esses parâmetros podem ajudar na seleção de plantas para projetos de recuperação de áreas contaminadas.…”

Endophytic Microbes Are Tools to Increase Tolerance in Jasione Plants Against Arsenic Stress

“…Plant exposure to As, even at low concentrations, could trigger negative consequences in morphology, physiology, and biochemistry (Moreno-Jiménez et al, 2008;Abbas et al, 2018). However, some plants are able to complete their life cycles in environments highly contaminated with As (García-Salgado et al, 2011;Guterres et al, 2019;Calabrese and Agathokleous, 2021).…”