Impact of chelator-induced phytoextraction of cadmium on yield and ionic uptake of maize.
Enhanced phytoextraction uses soil chelators to increase the bioavailability of heavy metals. This study tested the effectiveness of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid in enhancing cadmium (Cd) phytoextraction and their effects on the growth, yield, and ionic uptake of maize (Zea mays). Maize seeds of two cultivars were sown in pots treated with 15 (Cd15) or 30 mg Cd kg-1soil (Cd30). EDTA and citric acid at 0.5 g kg-1each were applied 2 weeks after germination. Results demonstrated that the growth, yield per plant, and total grain weight were reduced by exposure to Cd. EDTA increased the uptake of Cd in shoots, roots, and grains of both maize varieties. Citric acid did not enhance the uptake of Cd, rather it ameliorated the toxicity of Cd, as shown by increased shoot and root length and biomass. Cadmium toxicity reduced the number of grains, rather than the grain size. The maize cultivar Sahiwal-2002 extracted 1.6% and 3.6% of Cd from soil in both Cd+ EDTA treatments. Hence, our study implies that maize can be used to successfully phytoremediate Cd from soil using EDTA, without reducing plant biomass or yield.
a College of Plant Science and Technology , Huazhong Agriculture University , Wuhan , Hubei , China.|b Soil and Environmental Science Division , Nuclear Institutes for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) , Faisalabad , Pakistan.
Sumera
S
Anwar
a College of Plant Science and Technology , Huazhong Agriculture University , Wuhan , Hubei , China.
Shahbaz
S
Khan
b Soil and Environmental Science Division , Nuclear Institutes for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) , Faisalabad , Pakistan.
M Yasin
MY
Ashraf
c Department of Botany , Government College University , Faisalabad , Pakistan.
Ali
A
Noman
c Department of Botany , Government College University , Faisalabad , Pakistan.
Sara
S
Zafar
a College of Plant Science and Technology , Huazhong Agriculture University , Wuhan , Hubei , China.
Lijun
L
Liu
a College of Plant Science and Technology , Huazhong Agriculture University , Wuhan , Hubei , China.
Sana
S
Ullah
a College of Plant Science and Technology , Huazhong Agriculture University , Wuhan , Hubei , China.
Shah
S
Fahad
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010154:Pakistan; D003313:Zea mays / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D002614:Chelating Agents; D002104:Cadmium; D019343:Citric Acid; D004492:Edetic Acid
EDTA; Zea mays L..; biomass; citric acid; heavy metal; translocation factor