title: Phytoextraction of excess soil phosphorus.
abstract: In the search for a suitable plant to be used in P phytoremediation, several species belonging to legume, vegetable and herb crops were grown in P-enriched soils, and screened for P accumulation potentials. A large variation in P concentrations of different plant species was observed. Some vegetable species such as cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and yellow squash (Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo) were identified as potential P accumulators with >1% (dry weight) P in their shoots. These plants also displayed a satisfactory biomass accumulation while growing on a high concentration of soil P. The elevated activities of phosphomonoesterase and phytase were observed when plants were grown in P-enriched soils, this possibly contributing to high P acquisition in these species. Sunflower plants also demonstrated an increased shoot P accumulation. This study shows that the phytoextraction of phosphorus can be effective using appropriate plant species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Boulevard #11080, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1080, USA.
authors.forename: Nilesh C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Starnes
authors.forename: Shivendra V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Sahi
mesh_terms: D010832:6-Phytase / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D001711:Biotransformation; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006368:Helianthus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D010758:Phosphorus; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D010832:6-Phytase