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Nickel and copper accumulation strategies in Odontarrhena obovata growing on copper smelter-influenced and non-influenced serpentine soils: a comparative field study

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Abstract

The present investigation is the first in situ comparative study for the identification of Ni and Cu accumulation strategies involved in Odontarrhena obovata (syn. Alyssum obovatum (C.A. Mey.) Turcz.) growing in Cu-rich smelter-influenced (CSI) and non-Cu-influenced (NCI) sites. The total and Na2EDTA (disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)-extractable metal concentration in soils and plant tissues (roots, stem, leaves and flowers) were determined for CSI and NCI sites. High concentrations of total Ni, Cr, Co and Mg in the soil suggest serpentine nature of both the sites. In spite of high total and extractable Cu concentrations in CSI soil, majority of its accumulation was restricted to O. obovata roots showing its excluder response. Since the translocation and bioconcentration factors of Ni > 1 and the foliar Ni concentration > 1000 μg g−1, it can be assumed that O. obovata has Ni hyperaccumulation potential for both the sites. No significant differences in chlorophyll content in O. obovata leaves were observed between studied sites, suggesting higher tolerance of this species under prolonged heavy metal stress. Furthermore, this species from CSI site demonstrated rather high viability under extreme technogenic conditions due to active formation of antioxidants such as ascorbate, free proline and protein thiols. The presence of Cu in higher concentration in serpentine soil does not exert detrimental effect on O. obovata and its Ni hyperaccumulation ability. Thus, O. obovata could act as a putative plant species for the remediation of Cu-rich/influenced serpentine soils without compromising its Ni content and vitality.

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Abbreviations

BCF:

Bioconcentration factor

Chl:

Chlorophyll

CSI:

Cu-rich smelter-influenced

DTNB:

5,5-Ditiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)

DW:

Dry weight

EC:

Electrical conductivity

ICP-AES:

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

NCI:

Non-Cu-influenced

Na2EDTA:

Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

NPT:

Non-protein thiols

SP:

Soluble protein

SPT:

Soluble protein thiols

TBA:

Thiobarbituric acid

TF:

Translocation factor

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Anzhelika Teptina for the identification of plant species and expert reviewers for proofreading the article.

Funding

The work was funded by RFBR and DST according to the research Project No. 19-516-45006. The authors also acknowledge financial support by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement No. 02.A03.21.0006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biotechnology, Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia

    Tripti, Adarsh Kumar, Maria Maleva, Galina Borisova, Nadezhda Chukina & Irina Kiseleva

  2. Department of Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia

    Maria Maleva, Galina Borisova, Nadezhda Chukina & Irina Kiseleva

  3. Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia

    Maria Morozova

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  1. Tripti
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Tripti, Kumar, A., Maleva, M. et al. Nickel and copper accumulation strategies in Odontarrhena obovata growing on copper smelter-influenced and non-influenced serpentine soils: a comparative field study. Environ Geochem Health 43, 1401–1413 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00575-6

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