Metal tolerance and phytoaccumulation potential of drypteris pentheri (Krasser) C.CHR.

Abstract

Globally, heavy metals from natural and anthropogenic activities cause serious health and environmental risks, especially in water systems. Phytoremediation is a promising approach for removing metal contaminants in the environment. The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of a fern, Dryopteris pentheri (Krasser) C. Chr. to take up, accumulate, and tolerate heavy metals. The study was conducted in a controlled environment where plants were cultivated in 20 L dishes filled with wetland water for 7 days under control, low and high metal concentrations. Overall, D. pentheri contained high concentrations of selected metals; however, composition and concentrations differed across plant parts, with roots containing exceptionally high concentrations of Na, Mg, and K. Both bioaccumulation and translocation factors were greater than 1 for some selected metals in the roots, indicating that D. pentheri is a hyperaccumulator and has shown the ability to tolerate metals by increasing chlorophyll content under high metal concentrations after prolonged exposure. Therefore, D. pentheri stands as a good candidate for removing metals from aquatic environments.