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Relative Tolerance of a Range of Australian Native Plant Species and Lettuce to Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, and Lead

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Abstract

The tolerance of wild flora to heavy-metal exposure has received very little research. In this study, the tolerance of four native tree species, four native grass species, and lettuce to copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) was investigated in a root-elongation study using Petri dishes. The results of these studies show a diverse range of responses to Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb amongst the tested plant species. Toxicity among metals decreased in the following order: Cd ~ Cu > Pb > Zn. Metal concentrations resulting in a 50% reduction in growth (EC50) varied considerably, ranging from (μM) 30 (Dichanthium sericeum) to >2000 (Acacia spp.) for Cu; from 260 (Lactuca sativa) to 2000 (Acacia spp.) for Zn; from 27 (L. sativa) to 940 (Acacia holosericea) for Cd; and from 180 (L. sativa) to >1000 (Acacia spp.) for Pb. Sensitive native plant species identified included D. sericeum, Casuarina cunninghamiana, and Austrodanthonia caespitosa. However, L. sativa (lettuce) was also among the most sensitive to all four metals. Acacia species showed a high tolerance to metal exposure, suggesting that the Acacia genus shows potential for use in contaminated-site revegetation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry); the Australian Commonwealth Government through the Australian Research Council; and the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, South Australia, 5095, Australia

    Dane T. Lamb, Hui Ming, Mallavarapu Megharaj & Ravi Naidu

  2. Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, Adelaide, Australia

    Dane T. Lamb, Hui Ming, Mallavarapu Megharaj & Ravi Naidu

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  1. Dane T. Lamb
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  2. Hui Ming
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  3. Mallavarapu Megharaj
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  4. Ravi Naidu
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Correspondence to Ravi Naidu.

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Lamb, D.T., Ming, H., Megharaj, M. et al. Relative Tolerance of a Range of Australian Native Plant Species and Lettuce to Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, and Lead. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 59, 424–432 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9481-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9481-x

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