Identification of a Cd accumulator Conyza canadensis

J Hazard Mater. 2009 Apr 15;163(1):32-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.06.062. Epub 2008 Jun 25.

Abstract

One of key steps of phytoremediating heavy metal contaminated soils is still the identification of hyperaccumulator and accumulator. In a former published article, Conyza canadensis L. Cronq. expressed some basic properties of Cd-hyperaccumulators. In this study, concentration gradient experiment and two sample-analyzing experiments were used to identify whether this plant is a Cd-hyperaccumulator. When grown on soil spiked with Cd at the rate of 10 and 25 mg kg(-1) in concentration gradient experiment, C. canadensis had both Cd enrichment factor (EF) and Cd translocation factor (TF) greater than 1, while the shoot biomass did not differ significantly as compared to the control. On the other hand, with Cd-spiking rates of 10 and 25 mg kg(-1), the Cd concentration in the shoot did not exceed 100 mg kg(-1), which is considered as the minimum shoot Cd concentration to qualify as a hyperaccumulator. In the sample-analysis experiments from a Pb-Zn mine area and wastewater irrigation region, C. canadensis also showed Cd-accumulator characteristics. Based on the results accomplished, we propose C. canadensis as a Cd-accumulator.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Cadmium / analysis*
  • Cadmium / metabolism*
  • Conyza / drug effects
  • Conyza / growth & development
  • Conyza / metabolism*
  • Lead / pharmacology
  • Mining
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis
  • Zinc / pharmacology

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Cadmium
  • Lead
  • Zinc