Abstract

BUENDIA-GONZALEZ, L. et al. In vitro lead and nickel accumulation in mesquite (Prosopis laevigata) seedlings. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím [online]. 2010, vol.9, n.1, pp.01-09. ISSN 1665-2738.

The growth, survival and Pb(II) and Ni(II) uptake of Prosopis laevigata seedlings were determined in order to evaluate their bioaccumulation capability. The seedlings were cultured during 50 days on modified Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 10 g.l^-1 of sucrose, 0.0, 0.32, 0.63, 1.26, 2.10, 4.20 mM Ni(II), and 0.0, 0.23, 0.45, 0.90, 1.50, 3.0 mM Pb(II). None of the studied heavy metals avoided germination; however, both produced smaller plants with fewer leaves and secondary roots. Seedlings showed an accumulation of 2 582 and 3 895 mg Ni kg^-1, and of 27 300 and 40 666 mg Pb kg^-1, both in dry basis (d.b.), in shoot and root, when cultured with 1.26 mM Ni and 3.0 mM Pb, respectively. These results indicated that significant translocation from the roots unto aerial parts took place. A bioaccumulation factor for Ni superior to 32 and for Pb over 21 was exhibited by the seedlings, so that P. laevigata can be considered as a viable accumulator species of Pb(II) and Ni(II) for phytoremediation purposes.

Keywords : Prosopis laevigata; phytoremediation; bioaccumulation; heavy metals; in vitro culture.

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