title: Phytoremediation of cadmium by the facultative halophyte plant Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla, at different salinities.
abstract: The cadmium phytoremediation capacity of the halophyte plant Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla and the influence of water salinity were assessed in a greenhouse experiment, in order to better understand the bioremediation capacity of this plant. Three concentrations of cadmium (0, 50 and 100 μg l(-1)) and four salinity conditions (0, 5, 10 and 20) were chosen to evaluate the cadmium accumulation, in order to test these plants as a potential phytoremediation tool in brackish environments. The cadmium content in water and plants (underground organs, stems and leaves) was analysed with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. All the plants submitted to salinity 20 and in the three cadmium treatments died. The plants' survival was highest in the lowest salinities, where highest growth and biomasses were also obtained. The plants presented more cadmium content in the rhizomes, followed by stems and even less in leaves. The salt stress of the plants interfered with their cadmium accumulation capacity. The highest cadmium accumulation in the rhizomes occurred at salinity 0, while the salinities 0 and 5 were the most adequate for stems and leaves. The experiment pointed out that B. maritimus represents a good possible intervenient for cadmium bioremediation in freshwater and low salinity brackish water environments, but its use is limited in the habitats of higher salinity.
authors.affiliation: School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Marine Resources Research Group, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Campus 4, Santuário Na. Sra. dos Remédios, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal.
authors.forename: Márcia S S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Marine Resources Research Group, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Campus 4, Santuário Na. Sra. dos Remédios, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carmen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pedro
authors.affiliation: School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Marine Resources Research Group, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Campus 4, Santuário Na. Sra. dos Remédios, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal. scgoncalves@ipleiria.pt.|MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal. scgoncalves@ipleiria.pt.
authors.forename: Sílvia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Marine Resources Research Group, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Campus 4, Santuário Na. Sra. dos Remédios, 2520-641, Peniche, Portugal. susana.ferreira@ipleiria.pt.|CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal. susana.ferreira@ipleiria.pt.
authors.forename: Susana M F
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002104:Cadmium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D029785:Cyperaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011174:Portugal; D054712:Salinity; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: Accumulator plant; Atomic absorption; Cadmium; Greenhouse experiment; Halophytes; Phytoremediation; Salt stress; Trace metals