Evaluation of cadmium and arsenic effects on wild and cultivated cardoon genotypes selected for metal phytoremediation and bioenergy purposes

Abstract

Cynara cardunculus L. is a multipurpose crop, characterized by high production of biomass suitable for energy purposes and green chemistry. Taking advantage of its already demonstrated ability to grow in polluted environments that characterize many world marginal lands, the aim of this work was to investigate the response of different cardoon genotypes to exposure to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) pollution, in order to use this crop for rehabilitation of contaminated sites and its biomass for energy production. In this study, seeds of two wild cardoon accessions harvested in rural and industrial Sicilian areas and of a selected line of domestic cardoon were used, and the grown plants were spiked with As and Cd, alone or in combination, at two different concentrations (500 and 2000 μM) and monitored for 45 days. The growth parameters showed that all the plants survived until the end of experiment, with growth stimulation in the presence of low concentrations of As and Cd, relative to metal-free controls. Biomass production was mostly allocated in the roots in As treatment and in the shoots in Cd treatment. Cd EXAFS analysis showed that tolerance to high concentrations of both metals was likely linked to complexation of Cd with oxygen-containing ligands, possibly organic acids, in both root and leaf biomass with differences in behaviour among genotypes. Under As+Cd contamination, the ability of the plants to translocate As to aboveground system increased also showing that, for both metal(loid)s, there were significant differences between genotypes studied. Moreover, the results showed that Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris collected in an industrial area is the genotype that, among those studied, had the best phytoextraction capability for each metal(loid).

Heavy Metal Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivars irrigated with Fly Ash-Treated Acid Mine Drainage

“…The translocation and mobility of heavy metals have been researched in plants such as beans and wheat. For example, studied the absorption, transport, and mobility of radionuclides applied to leaves of beans [106]. These radioactive isotopes had varied mobility in the phloem, according to the researchers.…”

Differential responses of growth, metals accumulation, oxidative stress and Osmo-compatible solutes in the Halophyte Tamarix gallica under Arsenic and Aluminum stress alone or combined with salt

“…Salinity could modify the bioavailability of heavy metals in soil owing to the reduction of metal sorption from the soil and also the displacement of metals from the below-ground part to the above-ground parts of the plants (Wahla & Kirkham 2008). Most plants considered to be tolerant had mechanisms to keep much of their As load in the root (Leonardi et al, 2021). Salinity reduced Cd 2+ absorption and translocation in Kosteletzkya virginica (Han et al, 2012), whereas Cd 2+ translocation factor rose with the addition of NaCl in Sesuvium portulacastrum (Ghnaya et al, 2007).…”

Cystoseira compressa and Ericaria mediterranea: Effective Bioindicators for Heavy- and Semi-Metal Monitoring in Marine Environments with Rocky Substrates

“…Heavy- and semi-metals (HMs) have always been in the environment in small amounts via natural processes [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. But, recently, more industrialisation and economic growth along the coasts have raised the levels of HMs in the soil and water, which threatens the environment and marine life [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”