<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Heavy metal contamination is an increasingly pressing global ecological concern adversely affecting plant growth. Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and low-cost approach to help solve this problem by using plants to remove metals. This study aimed to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of four <italic>Plantago</italic> species, exposing them to different concentrations (0, 150, 300, 600 and 900 ppm) of zinc, copper, and iron during germination and early seedling growth. These are generally the phases of the plant life cycle most sensitive to stress. The germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), radicle, hypocotyl and cotyledons length, biomass, water content and tolerance index (TI) were recorded under controlled conditions. The results indicated that metal-induced stress significantly reduced GP, increased MGT, and inhibited seedling growth with increased metal concentration. The relative toxicity of the tested metals could be ranked as Fe > Cu > Zn. Regarding the <italic>Plantago</italic> species, <italic>P. tunetana</italic> and <italic>P. lanceolata</italic> could be considered highly tolerant, <italic>P. albicans</italic> moderately tolerant, and <italic>P. afra</italic> low-tolerant to metal toxicity during germination. Therefore, <italic>P. tunetana</italic> and <italic>P. lanceolata</italic> present an excellent potential for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated zones.</p>
</abstract>

Heavy metal contamination is an increasingly pressing global ecological concern adversely affecting plant growth. Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and low-cost approach to help solve this problem by using plants to remove metals. This study aimed to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of four Plantago species, exposing them to different concentrations (0, 150, 300, 600 and 900 ppm) of zinc, copper, and iron during germination and early seedling growth. These are generally the phases of the plant life cycle most sensitive to stress. The germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), radicle, hypocotyl and cotyledons length, biomass, water content and tolerance index (TI) were recorded under controlled conditions. The results indicated that metal-induced stress significantly reduced GP, increased MGT, and inhibited seedling growth with increased metal concentration. The relative toxicity of the tested metals could be ranked as Fe > Cu > Zn. Regarding the Plantago species, P. tunetana and P. lanceolata could be considered highly tolerant, P. albicans moderately tolerant, and P. afra low-tolerant to metal toxicity during germination. Therefore, P. tunetana and P. lanceolata present an excellent potential for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated zones.

Germination and early seedling growth in four <italic>Plantago</italic> species in response to Zn, Cu and Fe

University of Carthage, Higher School of Agriculture of Mograne, LR03AGR02, Laboratory of Agricultural Production Systems and Sustainable Development (SPADD)

Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología

The EuroBiotech Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Germination and early seedling growth in four  species in response to Zn, Cu and Fe

Heavy metal contamination is an increasingly pressing global ecological concern adversely affecting plant growth. Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly and...

Germination and early seedling growth in four Plantago species in response to Zn, Cu and Fe

Published Online: Jan 19, 2024

Page range: 32 - 43

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2024-0004

Keywords
heavy metals, phytoremediation,

© 2024 Hela Belhaj Ltaeif et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Germination and early seedling growth in four Plantago species in response to Zn, Cu and Fe

Published Online: Jan 19, 2024

Page range: 32 - 43

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebtj-2024-0004

Keywordsheavy metals, phytoremediation,

© 2024 Hela Belhaj Ltaeif et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
heavy metals, phytoremediation,