Lead accumulation in the roots of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.): a novel plant for phytoremediation systems?

Judicaëlle Brunet (1) , Anne Repellin (1) , Gilles Varrault (2) , Nancy Terryn (3) , Yasmine Zuily-Fodil (1)

1 Bioemco - Biogéochimie et écologie des milieux continentaux
2 CEREVE - Centre d'Enseignement et de Recherche Eau Ville Environnement
3 IPBO - Institute for Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries

Eleven day-old grass pea plants (Lathyrus sativus L.) were grown hydroponically for 96 h in the presence of 0.5 mM lead nitrate (Pb(NO(3))(2)). The survival rate was 100%. The mean lead content (measured by ICP-OES) in root tissues was 153 mg Pb g(-1) dry matter. Over three quarters of the lead was not labile. Compared with control plants, lead-exposed plants showed a six-fold, two-fold and three and a half-fold reduction in their root calcium, zinc and copper contents, respectively. Together, these results suggested that Lathyrus sativus L. was tolerant to a deficiency in essential nutrients and able to store large amounts of lead in its root tissues. Therefore, it could be used for the development of new rhizofiltration systems.

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]; Sciences de la Terre; Géochimie; Sciences de l'environnement; Milieux et Changements globaux; Sciences de l'environnement

Judicaëlle Brunet, Anne Repellin, Gilles Varrault, Nancy Terryn, Yasmine Zuily-Fodil. Lead accumulation in the roots of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.): a novel plant for phytoremediation systems?. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 2008, 331 (11), pp.859-64. ⟨10.1016/j.crvi.2008.07.002⟩. ⟨hal-00676388⟩