Hyperaccumulation of zinc by Corydalis davidii in Zn-polluted soils

A field survey was conducted to identify potential Zn accumulators from an artisanal Zn smelting area in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. Hydroponic and soil culture experiments were performed to investigate the accumulation ability of Zn in Corydalis davidii. Zn concentrations in roots, stems and leaves of C. davidii in the smelting site were 1.1–3.5, 1.2–11.2, and 3.3–14 mg g−1, respectively, whereas Zn concentrations in roots, stems and leaves of C. davidii in the contaminated site impacted by the Zn smelting were 1.0–2.4, 1.9–6.5, and 3.0–1.1 mg g−1, respectively. Zn concentrations in leaves and stems of C. davidii were observed at above 10 mg g−1 that refers to the threshold of Zn hyperaccumulator. The concentration distribution of Zn in C. davidii was leaf > stem > root, and the Zn bioaccumulation factors of C. davidii were above 1. It is concluded that C. davidii has high tolerance to concentrate Zn stress, and that C. davidii is a newly discovered Zn-hyperaccumulator with high biomass in the aboveground parts. Based on the cultivation experiments, C. davidii could reduce Zn concentration by 26.6, 21.2, and 10.2 mg kg−1yr−1 by phytoextraction from the smelting slag, Zn-contaminated soil, and background soil, respectively.

► A new Zn-hyperaccumulator Corydalis davidii was found.
► C. davidii has high biomass in aboveground parts and high tolerance.
► C. davidii was useful to remove Zn from Zn-contaminated sites.