Zn, Cd, S and trace metal bioaccumulation in willow (Salix spp.) cultivars grown hydroponically

ABSTRACT

Willows (Salix spp.) can be used to phytoremediate soils contaminated by Zn and Cd under certain conditions. In this study, the ability of 14 Salix cultivars to concentrate Cd, Zn and S in leaves was measured in hydroponic culture with 10 and 200 µM Cd and Zn, respectively, in the nutrient medium. The cultivars showed a wide range of biomass yields, tolerance to metals, and foliar concentrations of Zn and Cd, with some cultivars accumulating up to 1000 mg kg⁻¹ Zn, 70 mg kg⁻¹ Cd and 10,000 mg kg⁻¹ S with only mild phytotoxicity symptoms attributable to excess Zn. Cultivars with higher foliar Zn concentrations tended to have higher foliar Cd concentrations as well, and competition between Zn and Cd for uptake was observed. Exposure of Salix cultivars to Cd and Zn did not affect foliar concentrations of secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, but trace metal concentrations in leaves were significantly reduced (Fe and Cu) or increased (Mn) by exposure to excess Zn and Cd. Sulfur-XANES spectroscopy showed foliar S to be predominantly in highly oxidized (sulfate plus sulfonate) and reduced (thiol) forms, with oxidized S more prevalent in willows with the highest total S content.

KEYWORDS:

• Phytoremediation
• phytotoxicity
• polyphenols
• sulfur oxidation state
• S-XANES spectroscopy

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the assistance of Emily Rochon in determining secondary metabolites in the willow tissues.

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by Federal Hatch project NYC-125400. S-XANES studies were performed at beamline X-19A of the NSLS, Brookhaven National Laboratory, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DE-AC02-98CH10886).