Exploration of the Ability of Coleus blumei to Accumulate Aluminum

Abstract

In this study, the capacity of an ornamental species (Coleus blumei) to extract and accumulate aluminum was evaluated. The analyzed parameters were amount of soluble aluminum, radical growth, tolerance rate, bioaccumulation factor, and tissues aluminum concentration. The main limiting factor for aluminum accumulation is the availability of the metal. However, Coleus blumei can grow and accumulate up to 1445.7 mg kg−1 of aluminum dry base. This plant can play an important role in the treatment of polluted water with metals, since it can grow in conditions with a pH of around 4.8. The aluminum tolerance rate showed for this plant ranged between 18.8% and 25%. Therefore, this species behaves as a non-accumulator, even though the bioaccumulation factor was 3098.5 L kg−1.