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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Abiotic Stress
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1444227

Organic fertilizer improved the lead and cadmium metal tolerance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis by enhancing the uptake of potassium, phosphorus, and calcium

Provisionally accepted
Ouyang Linnan Ouyang Linnan 1Chen Shaoxiong Chen Shaoxiong 1Wentao Yang Wentao Yang 2Zheng Jiaqi Zheng Jiaqi 1Yang Jiaqi Yang Jiaqi 1Ye Lingshuai Ye Lingshuai 1Qiang Liu Qiang Liu 3*
  • 1 Research Institute of Fast-growing Trees, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhanjiang, China
  • 2 Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
  • 3 Central South University Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Phytoremediation is a strategy for the amelioration of soil heavy metal contamination that aligns with ecological sustainability principles. Among the spectrum of phytoremediation candidates, woody plants are considered particularly adept for their substantial biomass, profound root systems, and non-participation in the food chain. This study used Eucalyptus camaldulensis -a tree species characterized for its high biomass and rapid growth rate -to assess its growth and metal uptake in mining tailings. The results as follows: Exposure to heavy metals reduced the E. camaldulensis uptake of potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca). Heavy metal stress negatively affecteds the biomass of E. camaldulensis. Lead (Pb) primarily accumulated in the roots, while cadmium (Cd) predominantly accumulated in the stems. The application of organic fertilizers bolstereds the stress tolerance of E. camaldulensis, mitigating the adverse impacts of heavy metal stress. A synergistic effect occurred when organic fertilizers were combined with bacterial fertilizers. The plant's enrichment capacity for Cd and its tolerance to Pb was augmented through the concurrent application of bacterial and organic fertilizers. Collectively, application of organic fertilizers improved heavy metal tolerance of E. camaldulensis by enhancing uptake of K, P, and Ca and elevating content of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and gibberellin acid (GA) in roots. These findings provided nascent groundwork for breeding of E. camaldulensis with enhanced heavy metal tolerance. Moreover, this proveds the potentiality of E. camaldulensis for management of heavy metal-contaminated tailings and offers a promising avenue for future environmental restoration.

    Keywords: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Bacillus subtilis, Cultivation measures, heavy metal pollution, Phytoremediation

    Received: 05 Jun 2024; Accepted: 26 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Linnan, Shaoxiong, Yang, Jiaqi, Jiaqi, Lingshuai and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Qiang Liu, Central South University Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.