Lead Responses and Tolerance Mechanisms of Koelreuteria paniculata: A Newly Potential Plant for Sustainable Phytoremediation of Pb-Contaminated Soil

Rongkui Su, Tianzhi Xie, Haisong Yao, Yonghua Chen (), Hanqing Wang, Xiangrong Dai, Yangyang Wang, Lei Shi and Yiting Luo ()
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Rongkui Su: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Tianzhi Xie: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Haisong Yao: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Yonghua Chen: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Hanqing Wang: School of Civil Engineering, Central South Forestry University, Changsha 410018, China
Xiangrong Dai: PowerChina Zhongnan Engineering Corporation Limited, Changsha 410004, China
Yangyang Wang: College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Lei Shi: College of Environmental Engineering, Henan University of Engineering, Zhengzhou 451191, China
Yiting Luo: Business College, Hunan First Normal University, Changsha 410205, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: Phytoremediation could be an alternative strategy for lead (Pb) contamination. K. paniculata has been reported as a newly potential plant for sustainable phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soil. Physiological indexes, enrichment accumulation characteristics, Pb subcellular distribution and microstructure of K. paniculata were carefully studied at different levels of Pb stress (0–1200 mg/L). The results showed that plant growth increased up to 123.8% and 112.7%, relative to the control group when Pb stress was 200 mg/L and 400 mg/L, respectively. However, the average height and biomass of K. paniculata decrease when the Pb stress continues to increase. In all treatment groups, the accumulation of Pb in plant organs showed a trend of root > stem > leaf, and Pb accumulation reached 81.31%~86.69% in the root. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a/b showed a rising trend and then fell with increasing Pb stress. Catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activity showed a positive trend followed by a negative decline, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity significantly increased with increasing levels of Pb exposure stress. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that Pb accumulates in the inactive metabolic regions (cell walls and vesicles) in roots and stems, which may be the main mechanism for plants to reduce Pb biotoxicity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that Pb stress increased the content of intracellular -OH and -COOH functional groups. Through organic acids, polysaccharides, proteins and other compounds bound to Pb, the adaptation and tolerance of K. paniculata to Pb were enhanced. K. paniculata showed good phytoremediation potential and has broad application prospects for heavy metal-contaminated soil.

Keywords: phytoremediation; Pb stress; K. paniculata; physiological response; tolerance mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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