title: Evaluation of Atriplex halimus, Medicago lupulina and Portulaca oleracea for phytoremediation of Ni, Pb, and Zn.
abstract: Suitable plant species are able to accumulate heavy metals and to produce biomass useful for non-food purposes. In this study, three endemic Mediterranean plant species, Atriplex halimus, Portulaca oleracea and Medicago lupulina were grown hydroponically to assess their potential use in phytoremediation and biomass production. The experiment was carried out in a growth chamber using half strength Hoagland's solutions separately spiked with 5 concentrations of Pb and Zn (5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg L(-1)), and 3 concentrations of Ni (1, 2 and 5 mg L(-1)). Shoot and root biomass were determined and analyzed for their metals contents. A. halimus and M. lupulina gave high shoot biomass with relatively low metal translocation to the above ground parts. Metals uptake was a function of both metals and plant species. It is worth noting that M. lupulina was the only tested plant able to grow in treatment Pb50 and to accumulate significant amount of metal in roots. Plant metal uptake efficiency ranked as follows: A. halimus > M. lupulina > P. oleracea. Due to its high biomass production and the relatively high roots metal contents, A. halimus and M. lupulina could be successfully used in phytoremediation, and in phytostabilization, in particular.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze per l 'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Parthenope", Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Al Chami
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Al Bitar
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mondelli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dumontet
mesh_terms: D027466:Atriplex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001692:Biological Transport; D018533:Biomass; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D029902:Medicago / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D031822:Portulaca / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D009532:Nickel; D015032:Zinc