title: Cadmium tolerance and accumulation characteristics of mature flax, cv. Hermes: contribution of the basal stem compared to the root.
abstract: The potential of mature flax plants (cv. Hermes) to tolerate and accumulate cadmium (Cd) was studied to determine which part of the plant would be the key organ for phytoremediation purposes. After 4 month-growth on sand substrate containing 0.1mM Cd in a greenhouse, the roots and stems were separated and the stems were divided into three parts. The effects of Cd were studied on growth parameters, histology and mineral nutrition. No visible toxic symptoms were observed. Tolerance-index values calculated from growth parameters and nutrients remained relatively high, allowing the development of the plant until maturity and formation of seeds. The roots and bottom stem accumulated the highest quantity of Cd (750 and 360 mg/kg dry matter), values which largely exceeded the threshold defined for hyperaccumulators. On the other hand, basal stem had a high bioconcentration factor (BCF=32) and translocation factor TF' (2.5) but a low TF (0.5), indicating that this basal part would play a major role in phytoremediation (phytostabilization rather than phytorextraction). Therefore, the high tolerance to Cd and accumulation capacity make possible to grow Hermes flax on Cd-polluted soils.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Glyco-MEV EA 4358, IFRMP 23, University of Rouen, 76821 Mont Saint Aignan Cedex, France. olfa.douchiche@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Douchiche
authors.forename: Wided
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chaïbi
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morvan
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D019597:Flax / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium