Biology & Sustainability

Uptake and Distribution of Cu, Pb, and Zn in Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale; Asteraceae) Sampled from Polluted and Non-Polluted Soils

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Location

Indianapolis, IN

Subject Area

Biology & Sustainability

Start Date

11-4-2014 8:30 AM

End Date

11-4-2014 9:30 AM

Description

We investigated the hypotheses that: 1) differences in metal uptake exist between dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) clones sampled from unpolluted and polluted sites when grown in polluted media; and 2) differences in metal uptake into dandelion roots versus leaves exist for clones sampled from unpolluted and polluted sites when grown in polluted media. These hypotheses were tested by performing reciprocal planting experiments where dandelion clones sampled from two unpolluted and two polluted sites were grown pairwise in unpolluted (nutrient solution only) and polluted (nutrient solution + 120 mg kg-1 Cu, 700 mg kg-1 Pb, and 260 mg kg-1 Zn) media. Clones sampled from polluted sites sequestered significantly greater quantities of Cu, Pb, and Zn on both a concentration (root vs. leaves; mg kg-1) and total plant basis than clones sampled from unpolluted sites (ANOVA, P ≤ 0.05). When grown in polluted media clones from polluted sites accumulated 4.2 times as much Cu, 17.76 times as much Pb, and 4.2 times as much Zn in their tissues than clones sampled from unpolluted sites. Overall, dandelion clones sequestered significantly more Cu, Pb, and Zn in their root tissues than in their leaf tissues (ANOVA, P ≤ 0.05), regardless of the site type from which they were sampled. These results reveal that dandelions are Cu, Pb, and Zn accumulators and not strict excluders, and that differences in metal uptake capabilities exist among North American clonal genotypes. It is suggested that dandelions to be screened for phytoremediation purposes should be collected from metal polluted locales.

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Apr 11th, 8:30 AM Apr 11th, 9:30 AM

Uptake and Distribution of Cu, Pb, and Zn in Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale; Asteraceae) Sampled from Polluted and Non-Polluted Soils

Indianapolis, IN

We investigated the hypotheses that: 1) differences in metal uptake exist between dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) clones sampled from unpolluted and polluted sites when grown in polluted media; and 2) differences in metal uptake into dandelion roots versus leaves exist for clones sampled from unpolluted and polluted sites when grown in polluted media. These hypotheses were tested by performing reciprocal planting experiments where dandelion clones sampled from two unpolluted and two polluted sites were grown pairwise in unpolluted (nutrient solution only) and polluted (nutrient solution + 120 mg kg-1 Cu, 700 mg kg-1 Pb, and 260 mg kg-1 Zn) media. Clones sampled from polluted sites sequestered significantly greater quantities of Cu, Pb, and Zn on both a concentration (root vs. leaves; mg kg-1) and total plant basis than clones sampled from unpolluted sites (ANOVA, P ≤ 0.05). When grown in polluted media clones from polluted sites accumulated 4.2 times as much Cu, 17.76 times as much Pb, and 4.2 times as much Zn in their tissues than clones sampled from unpolluted sites. Overall, dandelion clones sequestered significantly more Cu, Pb, and Zn in their root tissues than in their leaf tissues (ANOVA, P ≤ 0.05), regardless of the site type from which they were sampled. These results reveal that dandelions are Cu, Pb, and Zn accumulators and not strict excluders, and that differences in metal uptake capabilities exist among North American clonal genotypes. It is suggested that dandelions to be screened for phytoremediation purposes should be collected from metal polluted locales.