Metal Accumulation and Tolerance in Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii (Nakai) H. Hara. and Fallopia sachalinensis (F.Schmidt) Ronse Decr., a Naturally Growing Plant Species at Mine Site

Xingyan Lu,Kohei Doyama,Mitsuki Yachi,Shingo Tomiyama,Toshikatsu Haruma,Keiko Yamaji

doi:10.3390/min11080806

Xingyan Lu, Kohei Doyama + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080806

Copy DOI

Abstract

For growing plants at mine sites, plant species that accumulate metals in tissues and are tolerant to high metal concentrations should be selected from the perspective of phytostabilization. However, the eco-chemical or elemental information of the plant species at the mine sites is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify plants that can adapt to natural growth at mine sites, via: (1) vegetation survey, (2) elemental analysis in soil and plants, and (3) detoxicant detection in plant cells. Our vegetation survey indicated that plants growing at our study site are consistent with plant species confirmed at other mine sites in previous reports. A. indica var. maximowiczii and F. sachalinensis, present at the mine site, highly accumulated Fe, Al, and Cu in the roots, indicating their metal tolerance. Furthermore, A. indica var. maximowiczii produced detoxicants such as chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid in the roots, which exhibited high antioxidative activity that would play an important role in metal tolerance in A. indica var. maximowiczii. This study will be effective in providing fundamental information on phytostabilization at mine sites.

Highlights

During Japan’s period of rapid economic growth after World War II, many mines were operating to refine metals from ores; nowadays, most mines are closed
In line 3, near a brook, Phragmites australis was the dominant species with a 10% cover rate
A. indica var. maximowiczii growing at the study site, revealed a similar cover rate in lines 1 and 3, with 3.9% and 4.7%, respectively

Summary

Introduction

During Japan’s period of rapid economic growth after World War II, many mines were operating to refine metals from ores; nowadays, most mines are closed. At several areas in mine sites, the soil still contains high concentrations of metals, showing acidity; plants cannot grow due to high concentrations of bioavailable metals, which can damage plant growth [1]. The following plant characteristics would be useful: plants that are capable of accumulating metals in the roots or the rhizosphere, and do not cause soil run off from the mine sites [3,5]. Plant species that can accumulate metals in the tissues and tolerate high concentrations of metals should be selected; there is limited eco-chemical and elemental information on the plant species suitable for phytostabilization at mine sites. Plants that naturally grow on soil concentrated with metal have evolved their diverse metal-tolerant abilities [6,7]. Metal tolerance mechanisms in plants are explained as follows [8]: (a) inhibition of metal ions entry into the cell by binding

Objectives

Results

Conclusion