Abstract
The aim of this work was to determine the content of heavy metals in soil and, for the first time, in wild Cortaderia nitida, and to discuss its potential as a metal phytoremediator plant. We sampled sediments (bulk and rhizosphere) and C. nitida (roots and shoots) in three nearby spots with different land uses (urban, industrialized and agricultural) along the Chibunga river basin (Ecuador). We analyzed the physico-chemical parameters in soil and heavy metal contents in soil and plants. The agricultural sediments showed the highest conductivity and redox potential, but the lowest pH. Among all the metals analyzed in soil and plants, we only found significant values of Zn and Fe. We observed clear differences in patterns of Zn distribution throughout soil and plants among the three areas sampled, thus suggesting that soil properties played an important role in Zn compartmentalization. Also, C. nitida demonstrated effective Zn translocation from roots to shoots, especially in farmlands (translocation factors between 1.64 and 2.51). Together with the results obtained for other Cortaderia species in metal-polluted areas, this study proposes C. nitida as a candidate to further study its metal phytoremediation potential and encourages this research in heavy metal-enriched soils.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
