Calamagrostis Epigeios L. Roth and Brassica Napus L. Are Promising Plant Species for the Phytoremediation of Ni-Contaminated Soils In Russia.

The goal of these studies was to identify plant species with strong ability to take up Ni from contaminated soils in humidity zone of Russia. These investigations was based on assumption that such plant species may be found among which are ruderal plants growing naturally in contaminated areas or of cultured species belong to the family of Brassicaceae a majority of wild plants accumulating Ni. As well known, hyperaccumulators are defined as plants that can accumulate 1000 μg/g Ni and up. We selected two plant species for detailed studies: ruderal cereal Calamagrostis epigeos and cultured species Brassica napus which were capable of high leaf biomass produced under Ni- or other heavy metals-contaminated soils. These plants show the tolerance to Ni during seed germination.. Leaf of C. epigeos can accumulate Ni close to 700 μg/g dry weight when they grown on heavy metal-contaminated soil-ground and their shoots were tolerant to cut that was importance for Ni removal in process of soil cleaning. Leaf of 5-week age plants B. nutans grown in water culture in the presence of NiCl₂ (500 μM) accumulated Ni (640 μg/g dry mass). After the treatment of leaf surface of plants grown in presence NiCl₂ by exogenous polyamine (putrescine, 1mM) as helator Ni content in leaf was increased 2-3 times greater.
This work was partially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (pr. no. 07-04-00241 and 07-04-00995).