Uptake and Translocation of Heavy Metals by Dyera costulata Grown in Copper-Contaminated Area

Phytoremediation is a green technology in which plants are used to remediate heavy metal and organic co-contaminated soil. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of D. costulata for remediation of soils contaminated with Cu. Seedlings were planted in the growth media treated with Cu in amount of 0, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg kg-1 (Cu0, Cu1,Cu2,Cu3,Cu4 and Cu5) for a period of five months. The maximum basal stem diameter (12.19 mm), height (69.5 cm) and number of leaves (28) were recorded in control media, Cu2 and Cu1, respectively. Two indicators were used namely, bioconcentration factor (BCF, metal concentration ratio of plant roots to soil), translocation factor (TF, metal concentration ratio of plant shoots to roots), to evaluate the potential of D. costulata as phytoremediator. The highest total Cu concentration (491.98 mg kg-1) and total Cu removal based on total plant dry biomass (1.07 %) were found in Cu5 and control media, respectively. D. costulata showed high bioconcentration factor (BCFs>1) and low translocation factor (TFs<1). Therefore, it may be concluded that this species has a potential to be used in phytoremediation of Cu-contaminated soil.

Keywords:

Phytoremediation , Dyera costulata , Heavy metals , Soil pollution , Removal efficiency