Cadmium phytoextraction capacity in eight C₃ herbage grass species

Abstract

Grasses are excellent candidates for phytoremediation because of their high biomass production, high adaptability and low management cost. This study assesses interspecific variation of cadmium (Cd) phytoextraction capabilities in eight C3 grass species. Populations of 30‐day‐old C3 grass species – namely, Agrostis alba, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca pratensis, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis– were grown hydroponically for 15 days with different concentrations of Cd (0, 5, 10 and 50 µM). For each species, shoot biomass, the proportion of growth inhibition (GI, %), shoot Cd concentration and accumulation, shoot nutrient uptake, and the proportion of uptake inhibition (UI, %) of nutrient minerals were evaluated. Effects of Cd application included stunted growth. The GI increased from 5% to 70% with an increase in Cd concentrations. For all Cd treatments, L. multiflorum showed the highest shoot dry biomass. Shoot Cd concentrations negatively affected mineral nutrient uptake. The highest Cd treatment caused UI of various elements of 37–95%. Under 50‐µM Cd treatment, Cd accumulation varied by 20 times among species, and L. multiflorum showed the highest Cd accumulation (116.46 µg plant−1). Our results indicate that L. multiflorum exhibited high degrees of both Cd tolerance and Cd phytoextraction capacity among grass species.

Effects of elevated CO2 levels on root morphological traits and Cd uptakes of two Lolium species under Cd stress

“…When compared the two Lolium species, greater reduction in plant growth, due to spiked Cd in growth media, was observed in L. perenne than in L. multiflorum, suggesting that the latter has higher metal tolerance than the former. Similar reports were documented in Sabreen and Sugiyama (2008) who showed that L. perenne had a higher growth inhibition than L. multiflorum under Cd stress.…”

“…They contain extensive root systems with high biomass, have high adaptability and low-cost management, and possess the ability to accumulate Cd (Sabreen and Sugiyama, 2008). Understanding the combined effects of elevated levels of CO 2 and metal contamination on their biomass productions, root morphological traits, and metal accumulations will improve both our knowledge of food safety and their survival abilities in metal contaminated environments.…”

Arsenic and nutrient absorption characteristics and antioxidant response in different leaves of two ryegrass (Lolium perenne) species under arsenic stress

“…Screening of suitable plants to remediate heavy metal contaminated environments is the first limiting factor of phytoremediation. Due to phytoextraction plants yield a low biomass and grow relatively slowly, grass species are preferred for phytoremediation because their high biomasses and they have a fast growth rates and are easier to manage [51, 52]. Thus, it is economical to use them for phytoremediation.…”

Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Enhances Copper Uptake in Crops and Pasture Species Grown in Copper‐Contaminated Soils in a Micro‐Plot Study

“…Therefore, although phytoremediation efforts for the treatment of contaminated sites have a number of advantages over other traditional physical, chemical, or engineering approaches, soils contaminated with Cu, and other heavy metals can present a difficult challenge for this emerging technology . It was previously suggested that grass species can accumulate even more heavy metals than phytoaccumulators because they produce much higher levels of plant biomass; in addition, grasses tend to have lower associated costs and are easier to manage . Therefore, it is important to screen for plant species that are potentially suitable for phytoremediation, particularly at the field scale.…”

“…Therefore, it is important to screen for plant species that are potentially suitable for phytoremediation, particularly at the field scale. Due to the limitation of their biomass, difficult management, and high cost of using the already‐known Cu hyperaccumulators, the use of grass species or high‐biomass crops can be an even more efficient way to perform remediation .…”