The Tolerance and Accumulation ofMiscanthus Sacchariflorus(maxim.) Benth., an Energy Plant Species, to Cadmium

Abstract

Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Benth. is a metallophyte suitable for the phytoremediation of mine wastes. The tolerance and accumulation of M. sacchariflorus to cadmium was studied by pot experiments. The results showed that O2·- generation rate, plasma membrane permeability and MDA content of M. sacchariflorus leaves increased with increasing Cd concentrations in soil, but significant effect was only observed when Cd concentrations were ≥50 mg·kg(-1). SOD and POD activities increased initially but decreased later on, whereas CAT activity only increased significantly at higher Cd concentrations, 50-100 mg·kg(-1). The content of photosynthetic pigment and growth of M. sacchariflorus were both not significantly affected when Cd concentration was ≤25 mg·kg(-1). In contrast, both parameters were significantly affected when Cd concentration was ≥50 mg·kg(-1). M. sacchariflorus could accumulate much Cd, but most of the Cd assimilated was retained in the belowground part, suggesting that M. sacchariflorus has poor ability to translocate Cd to the aboveground part. Our results suggested that although M. sacchariflorus was not a hyper-accumulator, it has a strong capacity to tolerate and stabilize the Cd. Therefore, M. sacchariflorus has a certain potential in the phytostabilization of Cd-contaminated soils.

Potential phytoremediation of soil cadmium and zinc by diverse ornamental and energy grasses

“…In the present study, shoot concentration, root concentration, and TF of Cd in the eight Miscanthus species/cultivars varied in the ranges 11.8-29.3 mg/kg, 64.9-361.3 mg/kg, and 0.06-0.28, respectively, at a soil total Cd 48.1 mg/kg. In another study investigating MS, its shoot concentration, root concentration and TF of Cd varied in the ranges 0.92-18.36 mg/kg, 2.34-64.77 mg/kg, and 0.50-0.29, respectively, at soil total Cd concentrations from 1 to 100 mg/kg (Zhang et al 2015), consistent with results reported here. In addition, reported tolerance of Miscanthus spp.…”

“…The MS tolerance to and low accumulation of Cd may in part be due to Cd induced malate secretion (Guo et al 2016. Results by Zhang et al (2015) also suggested that MS had a strong ability to tolerate Cd but a poor ability to translocate Cd from root to shoot (Pidlisnyuk et al 2014). Regarding Zn, it was reported that the aerial biomass and Zn accumulation of MG was much higher than M. sinensis, consistent with results herein, although the reported higher shoot Zn concentration and TF for M. sinensis than for MG differ from the present results (Fig.…”

“…There are large differences in uptake capacity and tolerance to Cd/Zn between different species of Miscanthus (Pidlisnyuk et al 2014;Barbosa et al 2015;Zhang et al 2015;Guo et al 2016). Cadmium concentrations in shoots and roots for three Miscanthus spp.…”

Miscanthus: A fast‐growing crop for environmental remediation and biofuel production

“…To cope with heavy metal stress, M. floridulus and M. sacchariflorus reconcile their photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant capability to varying degrees. For example, the chlorophyll content and activities of superoxide dismutase and POD are significantly increased under the stress from low concentrations of Pb, Zn, or Cd (Zhang et al., 2015). A variety of beneficial microorganisms are available in the rhizosphere of Miscanthus.…”

Role of Two Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Remediating Cadmium-Contaminated Soil Combined with Miscanthus floridulus (Lab.)

“…), M. sinensis Andersson, and M. floridulus (Lab.) had the potential to remediate metal(loid)s contamination in soils, and the remediation efficiency was related to plants’ genotype and metal(loid)s type [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. The ability of M. floridulus to accumulate Cd was significantly higher than that of M. sacchariflorus (Maxim.…”