Uptake and accumulation of cadmium, lead and zinc by Siam weed [Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson]

The Siam weed, Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson, Family Asteraceae, was found to be a new Pb hyperaccumulator by means of field surveys on Pb soil and hydroponic studies. Plants from field collection accumulated 1377 and 4236 mg kg−1 Pb in their shoots and roots, respectively, and could tolerate soil Pb concentrations up to 100 000 mg kg−1 with a translocation factor of 7.62. Very low concentrations of Cd and Zn were found in plants collected from the field. Under nutrient solution culture condition, C. odorata from the contaminated site (CS) and from non-contaminated site (NCS) grew normally with all three metals (Pb, Cd, Zn) supplied. However, the relative growth rates of all treated plants decreased with increased metal concentrations. The percentage uptakes of Pb, Cd, and Zn by C. odorata increased with increasing metal concentrations. Pb concentration in shoots and roots reached its highest values (1772.3 and 60 655.7 mg kg−1, respectively) at a Pb supply level of 10 mg l−1. While the maximum concentrations of Cd (0.5 mg l−1) in shoots and roots of C. odorata were 102.3 and 1440.9 mg kg−1, and the highest concentrations of Zn (20 mg l−1) were 1876.0 and 7011.8 mg kg−1, respectively. The bioaccumulation coefficients of Pb and Cd were greater than 1000. These results confirm that C. odorata is a hyperaccumulator which grows rapidly, has substantial biomass, wide distribution and has a potential for the phytoremediation of metal contaminated soils.