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Cd-phytoextraction potential in halophyte Salicornia fruticosa: 2 Salinity impact

Research Authors
Fawzy M. Salama1†, Arwa Abdulkreem AL-Huqail2, †,*, Mohammed Ali3, Mamdouh A. Eissa4 and Amany H. A. 4 Abeed1†
Research Abstract

Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) deposition and salinity are combined environmental stresses in coastal or 16 dry areas irrigated with non-treated wastewater. In those areas, halophytes have been found to be 17 more effective in the phytoextraction of metals rather than Cd-hyperaccumulating glycophytes that 18 are unqualified for growing in saline soil. Nevertheless, the impact of salt on the accumulation pro-19 prieties of Cd in a variety of halophytic species remains undetermined. The hydroponic culture was 20 used to investigate the impact of salinity on Cd tolerance as well as accumulation in distinct halo-21 phyte Salicornia fruticosa. The plant was subjected to 0, 25, and 50 μg l−1 Cd (0-Cd, L-Cd, and H-Cd, 22 respectively) in combination with or without 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCl in the nutrient solution. 23 Data demonstrated that Cd individually induced depletion in biomass accumulation. The NaCl-24 amplified Cd tolerance induced by enhanced biomass gaining and root length was associated with 25 adequate transpiration, leaf succulence, elevated levels of ascorbic acid (ASA), reduced glutathi-26 one, and phytochelatins (PCs) and proline as well as antioxidant enzymatic capacity via upregula-27 tion of peroxidases (PO), glutathione peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. 28 All Cd treatments decreased the uptake of calcium (Ca) as well as potassium (K) and transit to the 29 shoots; however, sodium (Na) accumulation in the shoots was not influenced by Cd. Consequently, 30 S. fruticosa retained its halophytic properties. Based on the low transfer efficiency and high enrich-31 ment coefficient at 0-50 mM, an examination of Cd accumulation characteristics revealed that phy-32 tostabilization was the selected phytoremediation strategy. At 100-200 mM, the high ground parts 33 Cd-translocation and high absorption efficiency encourage phytoremediation via phytoextraction. 34 The results revealed that S. fruticosa could be potentially utilized to renovate saline soils tainted with 35 heavy metals (HMs) because of its maximized capacity for Cd tolerance as well as enrichment mag-36 nified by NaCl. Cd accumulation in S. fruticosa is affected differently depending on the NaCl con-37 centration. Future studies may be conducted to detect other heavy metal pollutants screening that 38 could be extracted and stabilized by the S. fruticosa plant. Furthermore, other substrates presenting 39 a high electrical conductivity should be identified for reclamation.

Research Date