title: Copper uptake by Pteris melanocaulon Fée from a Copper-Gold mine in Surigao del Norte, Philippines.
abstract: The ability of some plants to take up metal contaminants in the soil has been of increasing interest as an environmental approach to pollution clean-up. This study aimed to assess the ability of Pteris melanocaulon for copper(Cu) uptake by determining the Cu levels in the fern vis-à-vis surrounding soil and the location of Cu accumulation within its biomass. It also aimed to add information to existing literature as P. melanocaulon are found to be less documented compared to other fern metal accumulators, such as P. vittata. The P. melanocaulon found in the Suyoc Pit of a Copper-Gold mine in Placer, Surigao del Norte, Philippines exhibited a high Bioaccumulation Factor(BF) of 4.04 and a low Translocation Factor(TF) of 0.01, suggesting more Cu accumulation in the roots (4590.22 ± 385.66 µg g(-1) Cu). Noteworthy was the Cu concentration in the rhizome which was also high (3539.44 ± 1696.35 µg g(-1) Cu). SEM/EDX analyses of the Cu content in the roots indicated high elemental %Cu in the xylem (6.95%) than in the cortex (2.68%). The high Cu content in the roots and rhizomes and the localization of Cu in the xylem manifested a potential utilization of the fern as a metallophyte for rhizofiltration and phytostabilization.
authors.affiliation: a Ateneo de Manila University , Loyola Heights, Quezon City , Philippines.
authors.forename: Joseph Benjamin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: De la Torre
authors.affiliation: a Ateneo de Manila University , Loyola Heights, Quezon City , Philippines.
authors.forename: Rene Juna R
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Claveria
authors.affiliation: a Ateneo de Manila University , Loyola Heights, Quezon City , Philippines.
authors.forename: Rubee Ellaine C
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: a Ateneo de Manila University , Loyola Heights, Quezon City , Philippines.
authors.forename: Teresita R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: b University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Augustine I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Doronila
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D006046:Gold; D008906:Mining; D010679:Philippines; D032495:Pteris / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D006046:Gold; D003300:Copper
keywords: Metal accumulation; black-stemmed fern; metallophytes; phytoremediation; phytostabilization