Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Elevated CO2 improves root growth and cadmium accumulation in the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aims

This study examined the effect of elevated CO2 on plant growth, root morphology and Cd accumulation in S. alfredii, and assessed the possibility of using elevated CO2 as fertilizer to enhance phytoremediation efficiency of Cd-contaminated soil by S. alfredii.

Methods

Both soil pot culture and hydroponic experiments were carried out to characterize plant biomass, root morphological parameters, and cadmium uptake in S. alfredii grown under ambient (350 μL L−1) or elevated (800 μL L−1) CO2.

Results

Elevated CO2 prompted the growth of S. alfredii, shoot and root biomass were increased by 24.6–36.7% and 35.0–52.1%, respectively, as compared with plants grown in ambient CO2. After 10 days growth in medium containing 50 μM Cd under elevated CO2, the development of lateral roots and root hairs were stimulated, additionally, root length, surface area, root volume and tip number were increased significantly, especially for the finest diameter roots. The total Cd uptake per pot was significantly greater under elevated CO2 than under ambient CO2. After 60 d growth, Cd phytoextraction efficiency was increased significantly in the elevated CO2 treatment.

Conclusions

Results suggested that the use of elevated CO2 may be a useful way to improve phytoremediation efficiency of Cd-contaminated soil by S. alfredii.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Banuelos G, Leduc DL, Pilon-Smits EAH, Terry N (2007) Transgenic Indian mustard overexpressing selenocysteine lyase or selenocysteine methyltransferase exhibit enhanced potential for selenium phytoremediation under field conditions. Environ Sci Technol 41:599–605

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barcelo J, Poschenrieder C (2011) Hyperaccumulation of trace elements: from uptake and tolerance mechanisms to litter decomposition; selenium as an example. Plant Soil 341:31–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bassirirad H, Griffin KL, Strain BR, Reynolds JF (1996) Effects of CO2 enrichment on growth and root (NH4+)-N-15 uptake rate of loblolly pine and ponderosa pine seedlings. Tree Physiol 16:957–962

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaney RL, Malik M, Li YM, Brown SL, Brewer EP, Angle JS, Baker AJM (1997) Phytoremediation of soil metals. Curr Opin Biotech 8:279–284

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cousins AB, Adam NR, Wall GW, Kimball BA, Pinter PJ, Ottman MJ, Leavitt SW, Webber AN (2003) Development of C-4 photosynthesis in sorghum leaves grown under free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE). J Exp Bot 54:1969–1975

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cui M, Miller PM, Nobel PS (1993) CO2 exchange and growth of the crassulacean acid metabolism plant Opuntia-Ficus-indica under elevated CO2 in open-top chambers. Plant Physiol 103:519–524

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deepak SS, Agrawal M (1999) Growth and yield responses of wheat plants to elevated levels of CO2 and S2, singly and in combination. Environ Pollut 104:411–419

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drennan PM, Nobel PS (2000) Responses of CAM species to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Plant Cell Environ 23:767–781

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebersberger D, Niklaus PA, Kandeler E (2003) Long term CO2 enrichment stimulates N-mineralisation and enzyme activities in calcareous grassland. Soil Biol Biochem 35:965–972

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gouk SS, Yong JWH, Hew CS (1997) Effects of super-elevated CO2 on the growth and carboxylating enzymes in an epiphytic CAM orchid plantlet. J Plant Physiol 151:129–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hogy P, Wieser H, Kohler P, Schwadorf K, Breuer J, Franzaring J, Muntifering R, Fangmeier A (2009) Effects of elevated CO2 on grain yield and quality of wheat: results from a 3-year free-air CO2 enrichment experiment. Plant Biol 11:60–69

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hungate BA, Holland EA, Jackson RB, Chapin FS, Mooney HA, Field CB (1997) The fate of carbon in grasslands under carbon dioxide enrichment. Nature 388:576–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and NY, USA, pp. 1–21

  • Jia Y, Tang SR, Wang RG, Ju XH, Ding YZ, Tu SX, Smith DL (2010) Effects of elevated CO2 on growth, photosynthesis, elemental composition, antioxidant level, and phytochelatin concentration in Lolium mutiforum and Lolium perenne under Cd stress. J Hazard Mater 180:384–394

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin CW, Du ST, Chen WW, Li GX, Zhang YS, Zheng SJ (2009) Elevated carbon dioxide improves plant iron nutrition through enhancing the iron-deficiency-induced responses under iron-limited conditions in tomato. Plant Physiol 150:272–280

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimball BA, Pinter PJ, Garcia RL, LaMorte RL, Wall GW, Hunsaker DJ, Wechsung G, Wechsung F, Kartschall T (1995) Productivity and water use of wheat under free-air CO2 enrichment. Global Change Biol 1:429–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimball BA, Kobayashi K, Bindi M (2002) Responses of agricultural crops to free-air CO2 enrichment. Adv Agron 77:293–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krämer U (2005) Phytoremediation: novel approaches to cleaning up polluted soils. Curr Opin Biotech 16:133–141

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar PBAN, Dushenkov V, Motto H, Raskin I (1995) Phytoextraction—the use of plants to remove heavy-metals from soils. Environ Sci Technol 29:1232–1238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li ZY, Tang SR, Deng XF, Wang RG, Song ZG (2010) Contrasting effects of elevated CO2 on Cu and Cd uptake by different rice varieties grown on contaminated soils with two levels of metals: implication for phytoextraction and food safety. J Hazard Mater 177:352–361

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu D, Islam E, Ma JS, Wang X, Mahmood Q, Jin XF, Li TQ, Yang XE, Gupta D (2008) Optimization of chelator-assisted phytoextraction, using EDTA, lead and Sedum alfredii Hance as a model system. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 81:30–35

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu RK (1999) Analytical methods for soils and agricultural chemistry. China Agricultural Science and Technology Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Luttge U (2004) Ecophysiology of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). Ann Bot-London 93:629–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marinari S, Calfapietra C, De Angelis P, Mugnozza GS, Grego S (2007) Impact of elevated CO2 and nitrogen fertilization on foliar elemental composition in a short rotation poplar plantation. Environ Pollut 147:507–515

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGrath SP, Zhao FJ (2003) Phytoextraction of metals and metalloids from contaminated soils. Curr Opin Biotech 14:277–282

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy AS, Peer W, Schulz B (eds) (2011) The plant plasma membrane. Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York, Heidelberg. pp 303–330

  • Pence NS, Larsen PB, Ebbs SD, Letham DLD, Lasat MM, Garvin DF, Eide D, Kochian LV (2000) The molecular physiology of heavy metal transport in the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:4956–4960

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard SG, Rogers HH (2000) Spatial and temporal deployment of crop roots in CO2-enriched environments. New Phytol 147:55–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rascio N, Navari-Izzo F (2011) Heavy metal hyperaccumulating plants: how and why do they do it? And what makes them so interesting? Plant Sci 180:169–181

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson BH, Banuelos G, Conesa HM, Evangelou MWH, Schulin R (2009) The Phytomanagement of trace elements in soil. Crit Rev Plant Sci 28:240–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers HH, Prior SA, Runion GB, Mitchell RJ (1996) Root to shoot ratio of crops as influenced by CO2. Plant Soil 187:229–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun YB, Zhou QX, An J, Liu WT, Liu R (2009) Chelator-enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soil irrigated by industrial wastewater with the hyperaccumulator plant (Sedum alfredii Hance). Geoderma 150:106–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang S, Xi L, Zheng JM, Li H (2003) Response to elevated CO2 of Indian mustard and sunflower growing on copper contaminated soil. Bull Environ Contam Toxico 71:988–997

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang SR, Jia Y, Wang RG, Ju XH, Ding YZ, Tu SX, Smith DL (2010) Effects of elevated CO2 on growth, photosynthesis, elemental composition, antioxidant level, and phytochelatin concentration in Lolium mutiforum and Lolium perenne under Cd stress. J Hazard Mater 180:384–394

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel WW, Unterbrunner R, Sommer P, Sacco P (2003) Chelate-assisted phytoextraction using canola (Brassica napus L.) in outdoors pot and lysimeter experiments. Plant Soil 249:83–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu LH, Luo YM, Xing XR, Christie P (2004) EDTA-enhanced phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil with Indian mustard and associated potential leaching risk. Agr Ecosyst Environ 102:307–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu HB, Tang SR, Zhang XM, Guo JK, Song ZG, Tian SA, Smith DL (2009) Using elevated CO2 to increase the biomass of a Sorghum vulgare x Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense hybrid and Trifolium pratense L. and to trigger hyperaccumulation of cesium. J Hazard Mater 170:861–870

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang XE, Long XX, Ni WZ, Fu CX (2002) Sedum alfredii H: a new Zn hyperaccumulating plant first found in China. Chin Sci Bull 47:1634–1637

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang XE, Long XX, Ye HB, He ZL, Calvert DV, Stoffella PJ (2004) Cadmium tolerance and hyperaccumulation in a new Zn-hyperaccumulating plant species (Sedum alfredii Hance). Plant Soil 259:181–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang XE, Li TQ, Yang JC, He ZL, Lu LL, Meng FH (2006) Zinc compartmentation in root, transport into xylem, and absorption into leaf cells in the hyperaccumulating species of Sedum alfredii Hance. Planta 224:185–195

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao FJ, McGrath SP (2009) Biofortification and phytoremediation. Curr Opin Plant Biol 12:373–380

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng JM, Wang HY, Li ZQ, Tang SR, Chen ZY (2008) Using elevated carbon dioxide to enhance copper accumulation in Pteridium revolutum, a copper-tolerant plant, under experimental conditions. Int J Phytorem 10:161–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The study was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (40701074), China-EU Cooperation in the EU Framework program (2011DFA101222), the Science and Technology Commission of Zhejiang Province (2008C33047), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Y5080172, Y3090072) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China

    Tingqiang Li, Zhenzhen Di, Xuan Han & Xiaoe Yang

Authors
  1. Tingqiang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhenzhen Di
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xuan Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiaoe Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tingqiang Li.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Juan Barcelo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, T., Di, Z., Han, X. et al. Elevated CO2 improves root growth and cadmium accumulation in the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii . Plant Soil 354, 325–334 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1068-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-1068-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation