title: Long-term field metal extraction by Pelargonium: phytoextraction efficiency in relation to plant maturity.
abstract: The long length of periods required for effective soil remediation via phytoextraction constitutes a weak point that reduces its industrial use. However, these calculated periods are mainly based on short-term and/or hydroponic controlled experiments. Moreover, only a few studies concern more than one metal, although soils are scarcely polluted by only one element. In this scientific context, the phytoextraction of metals and metalloids (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, and As) by Pelargonium was measured after a long-term field experiment. Both bulk and rhizosphere soils were analyzed in order to determine the mechanisms involved in soil-root transfer. First, a strong increase in lead phytoextraction was observed with plant maturity, significantly reducing the length of the period required for remediation. Rhizosphere Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As accumulation was observed (compared to bulk soil), indicating metal mobilization by the plant, perhaps in relation to root activity. Moreover, metal phytoextraction and translocation were found to be a function of the metals' nature. These results, taken altogether, suggest that Pelargonium could be used as a multi-metal hyperaccumulator under multi-metal soil contamination conditions, and they also provide an interesting insight for improving field phytoextraction remediation in terms of the length of time required, promoting this biological technique.
authors.affiliation: Université Toulouse, INP-ENSAT, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaemmerer
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinelli
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baque
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pradere
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dumat
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001692:Biological Transport; D018533:Biomass; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D031316:Pelargonium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D058441:Rhizosphere; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D001151:Arsenic