title: Growth and survival of Halimione portulacoides stem cuttings in heavy metal contaminated soils.
abstract: The halophytic shrub Halimione portulacoides demonstrates a high tolerance to heavy metal contamination and a capacity for accumulating metals within its tissues. On the Iberian Peninsula, this species has colonized habitats with high levels of metal pollution. The aim of this study is to analyze the response of H. portulacoides stem cuttings to this pollution. Growth, photosynthesis and metal uptake were examined in H. portulacoides through an experiment in which stem cuttings were replanted in metal-contaminated soil. This condition decreased growth and lowered both photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. Reduced photosynthetic performance was largely due to the reduced concentration of photosynthetic pigments. Despite these responses, there was some important evidence suggesting the phytoremediatory potential of Halimione stem cuttings. The results of our study indicate that this salt-marsh shrub may represent a biotool of value in the restoration of polluted areas.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, 41080 Seville, Spain. Electronic address: andrades@us.es.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andrades-Moreno
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, 41080 Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cambrollé
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, 41080 Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, 41080 Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mateos-Naranjo
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D027703:Amaranthaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000502:physiology; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll
keywords: A; C(i); Chl a; Chl b; Cx+c; F(0); F(m); F(v); F(v)/F(m); Gs; Halimione portulacoides; NPQ; Photosynthesis; Phytoremediation; RGR; Stem cuttings; Wetlands restoration; carotenoids; chlorophyll a; chlorophyll b; intercellular CO(2) concentration; maximal fluorescence level in the dark-adapted state; maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry; minimal fluorescence level in the dark-adapted state; net photosynthetic rate; non-photochemical quenching; quantum efficiency of PSII; relative growth rate; stomatal conductance; variable fluorescence level in the dark-adapted state; ΦPSII