International Journal of Phytoremediation最新文献

This pot experiment elucidated the dynamic effects of continuous grafting on cadmium (Cd) accumulation in tomato plants, investigating its impact on Cd distribution, accumulation characteristics, and generational responses. The results demonstrated that continuous grafting significantly reduced both biomass and antioxidant enzyme activities in tomato scions. Specifically, compared to non-grafted controls, the root biomass of secondary and tertiary grafted plants decreased by 40.21% and 40.38%, respectively. Concurrently, a reduction in DNA methylation levels was observed across cuttings and grafted generations. Demethylation emerged as the predominant pattern in seedlings, while hypermethylation was notably present in the progeny of tertiary grafted plants. Although the Cd content in the cuttings themselves was not significantly altered, continuous grafting markedly increased Cd accumulation within various tissues of the subsequent grafted generation plants. Furthermore, it contributed to a reduction in Cd bioavailability in the soil. In summary, continuous grafting suppressed the growth of the grafted cuttings but paradoxically enhanced both growth and Cd uptake capacity in their progeny. This study provides a theoretical foundation for employing grafting techniques to modulate crop physiological responses to Cd-contaminated soil. Subsequent research incorporating transcriptomic analysis is recommended to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these transgenerational effects.

Lead (Pb) is a common environmental contaminant that poses a significant threat to plant growth and productivity. Gibberellic acid (GA₃), a phytohormone, is recognized for its role in promoting growth and alleviating abiotic stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of foliar GA₃ in mitigating Pb toxicity in two brinjal varieties (round and long). Conducted in February 2023 at the experimental area of Govt. College Women University, Faisalabad, the experiment involved planting ten seeds of each variety in pots, using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. Treatments included Pb at 100 and 150 mg/kg, GA₃ at 25 mg/L, and a control group. Results indicated that Pb treatment significantly reduced shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight, total soluble sugars, proteins, malondialdehyde (MDA), phenolics, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. However, the application of GA₃ (25 mg/L) effectively mitigated the negative effects of Pb, with more pronounced benefits observed in the round variety compared to the long variety. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that independent GA₃ treatment led to improved growth in the round variety when subjected to Pb stress.

In this study, NaOH-modified Citrus limetta peel (NCLP) was prepared and utilized as an effective adsorbent to remove methylene blue (MB) dye from synthetic wastewater. The prepared adsorbents were characterized using a range of techniques, including SEM/EDS, BET, TGA, XRD, proximate and component analyses, and Point of Zero Charge. Based on compositional and proximate analyses, NCLP was found to have high cellulose and fixed carbon contents, along with lower concentrations of volatile matter, moisture, hemicellulose, lignin, ash, and extractives. The studies were carried out by varying the adsorbent dose, contact time, pH, initial adsorbate concentration, and temperature. Different isotherm and kinetic models were applied; among them, the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics most accurately described the adsorption behavior of MB by NCLP. The adsorption of MB onto the NCLP adsorbent was found to be spontaneous and endothermic, accompanied by an increase in entropy. Using HCl as an eluent, five adsorption-desorption cycles were successfully carried out on MB-loaded NCLP. The present study confirms that NCLP is a suitable adsorbent for removing MB from wastewater.

Rare earth elements are increasingly contaminating terrestrial ecosystems, accumulating in plants and thereby disrupting nutrient balance. The role of low molecular weight organic acids in mediating rare earth element fractionation and plant responses remains poorly understood. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was conducted using Phytolacca americana exposed to lanthanum (La) and yttrium (Y) in combination with varying concentrations of citric acid or malic acid, and plant growth, elemental concentrations and systemic responses were evaluated. Citric acid markedly promoted lanthanum accumulation in aboveground tissues, reversed the inherent plant preference for yttrium and increased the lanthanum to yttrium ratio, consistent with enhanced long distance transport. In contrast, malic acid did not significantly promote lanthanum translocation but instead enhanced root thickening and supported the coordinated uptake of essential nutrients, thereby maintaining ionic homeostasis and biomass. Multivariate analyses confirmed that citric acid induced a lanthanum centered fractionation pattern at the expense of nutrient balance, whereas malic acid sustained nutrient coordination. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the biogeochemical controls governing rare earth element mobility and have direct implications for the design of phytoremediation strategies based on low molecular weight organic acids for soils contaminated by rare earth elements.

Microplastics (MPs) increasingly infiltrate agricultural systems through plastic mulch degradation, wastewater irrigation, atmospheric fallout, and organic amendments. Once in soil, MPs interact with plant-soil interfaces: smaller particles adhere to root surfaces and translocate through apoplastic and symplastic pathways, while oversized microplastics (OMPs), in organic fertilizers represent a disproportionate fraction of total MPs mass and have been shown to impair crop growth by disrupting rhizosphere function and nutrient allocation. Physically alter soil porosity and root development. MPs also function as vectors for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) such as blaTEM, which adhere to polymer surfaces, migrate into plant tissues, and persist during digestion, raising concerns for food safety. However, inconsistencies in micro-particle isolation and characterization hinder process-based risk assessment. This review emphasizes the mechanistic pathways of MP entry, uptake, and biological interaction in agroecosystems, and highlights the urgent need for standardized detection protocols and food-grade thresholds to protect human health.

This study addressed Pb(II)-contaminated wastewater pollution by preparing novel alkaline magnetic biochar (MPEC) from plant residues via alkaline activation and magnetic modification. Experiments indicate that when the biomass-to-NaOH mass ratio is 2:1 and the pyrolysis temperature is 600 °C, the biochar achieves its maximum specific surface area (58.6 m²/g), thereby providing abundant active sites for Pb(II) adsorption. The adsorption process of MPEC for Pb(II) ions conforms to pseudo-first-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model. The optimal adsorption capacity (206.8 mg/g) is achieved when the pH is 6, the adsorbent dosage is 0.06 g, and the adsorption time is 90 min. Research into adsorption mechanisms has revealed that MPEC's adsorption of Pb(II) involves multiple interaction pathways, including electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, surface coordination, and Fe-O-Pb coordination. These interactions collectively facilitate the binding of Pb(II) ions to the biochar surface. In practical aquatic environments, MPEC consistently achieves Pb(II) removal rates exceeding 90%, demonstrating excellent environmental adaptability and application potential.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination, primarily derived from anthropogenic activities, poses a threat to ecosystems and a risk to food security and human health due to their toxic nature and potential for mobilization between environmental compartments. Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy for the remediation of HM-contaminated soils that can be facilitated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A key mechanism in this process involves glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by AMF, which plays a crucial role in stabilizing and sequestering HM in the soil. This review combines a bibliometric analysis identifying trends in scientific interest in glomalin-assisted phytoremediation with an evaluation of the current knowledge on HM sequestration in soils by glomalin, methodological aspects, and potential mechanisms involved. The reviewed information could be valuable for advancing future research and developing successful practices for remediating sites affected by toxic element pollution, addressing a global environmental contamination issue, and contributing to relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Air pollution, intensified by industrialization, urbanization, and deforestation, causes over 8 million premature deaths annually, with over 99% of the global population exposed to unsafe pollutant levels. Conventional mitigation technologies, though effective, are limited by high costs, energy demand, and secondary waste generation, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Phytoremediation, a nature-based solution (NbS), leverages plant physiology and plant-microbe interactions to mitigate airborne pollutants including PM, NOx, SOx, VOCs, CO, heavy metals and GHGs. This review synthesizes findings from 156 peer-reviewed studies (2020-2025), integrating mechanisms, functional traits, innovations, and socio-economic perspectives. Tree species such as Platanus orientalis, Tilia cordata, and Ficus benjamina reduce PM_2.5 loads by up to 25%, while indoor plants like Chlorophytum comosum and Spathiphyllum wallisii lower VOCs by 30-44%. Hyperaccumulators (Brassica juncea, Pteris vittata) achieve over 90% heavy metals in aqueous systems, and engineered green walls cut VOCs by 72.5% and PM_2.5 by 17-25%. Nanoparticle-assisted systems, also aqueous, achieve up to 99.58% cadmium removal. Despite challenges of pollutant specificity, seasonal variability, and biomass management, phytoremediation remains a scalable, low-cost NbS. The novelty of this review lies in integrating recent biological, technological, and policy advances, positioning phytoremediation as a viable pathway for sustainable air quality management.

The Pb contamination in soil poses significant environmental and public health risks due to its non-biodegradable and bioaccumulative nature. This study evaluates the phytoremediation potential of six ornamental plant species-Helianthus annuus, Gaillardia grandiflora, Brassica juncea, Euphorbia tithymaloides, Tradescantia pallida, and Canna indica-for remediating Pb-contaminated soils. These species were selected for their short life cycles, adaptability, and tolerance to Pb stress. Pot experiments were conducted with soil spiked at Pb concentrations of 0, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg kg^-1, and plant growth responses, Pb accumulation, and phytoremediation efficiency were assessed over 120 days. Growth parameters, including plant measurements (root and shoot length) and biomass, were recorded, alongside Pb concentrations in plant tissues. Phytoremediation efficiency was evaluated through bio-concentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and tolerance index (TI). Results showed that C. indica, B. juncea, G. grandiflora, and H. annuus exhibited enhanced or stable growth under Pb stress, while T. pallida was highly sensitive, showing significant growth reductions. T. pallida and G. grandiflora demonstrated the highest Pb accumulation, with G. grandiflora indicating phytoextraction potential (TF > 1). All species had BCF_root values > 1, indicating effective Pb uptake, particularly in roots. These findings suggest that the tested ornamental plants, especially G. grandiflora and C. indica, are promising candidates for phytoremediation of moderately Pb-contaminated soils, offering both environmental and esthetic benefits.

Previous studies have demonstrated that both Biochar (BC) and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can significantly mitigate Cadmium (Cd) toxicity and alleviate plant stress. To further investigate the individual and interactive effects of these two factors on the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil, a pot experiment was conducted. Under Cd pollution stress, the concurrent application of BC and AMF markedly increased biomass by 40.1% and the root-shoot ratio by 35.9%. The synergistic application of BC and AMF significantly enhanced the Cd concentration in the aboveground biomass of Poa pratensis L. by 37.4%, while increasing it in the underground biomass by 73.8%. During phytoremediation, BC enriches beneficial microbial communities, enhancing Cd fixation by the roots of P. pratensis L. Concurrent inoculation with AMF facilitates the translocation of Cd to the aboveground biomass, thus improving phytoremediation efficiency. Compared to the bioavailability of Cd, plant absorption of Cd is more significantly influenced by the plants' tolerance capacity. Both BC and AMF enhance the Cd tolerance of P. pratensis L. in this study; however, no synergistic effect between BC and AMF was observed. This finding contrasts with previous reports, which might be due to the contradictory regulation of Cd transport direction by BC and AMF.