Evaluation of zinc tolerance and accumulation potential of the coastal shrub Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss.

The coastal shrub Limoniastrum monopetalum is capable of growth in soil containing extremely high concentrations of heavy metals. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effects of a range of Zn concentrations (0–130 mmol l−1) on growth and photosynthetic performance, by measuring relative growth rate, total leaf area, plant height, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic pigment concentrations. We also determined the total zinc, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron and copper concentrations in the plant tissues. The study species demonstrated hypertolerance to Zn stress, since survival was recorded with leaf concentrations of up to 1700 mg Zn kg−1 dry mass when treated with 130 mmol Zn l−1. L. monopetalum exhibited little overall effects on photosynthetic function at Zn levels of up to 90 mmol l−1. At greater external Zn concentration, plant growth was negatively affected, due in all probability to the recorded decline in net photosynthetic rate, which may be linked to the adverse effect of the metal on photosynthetic electron transport. Growth parameters were virtually unaffected by leaf tissue concentrations as high as 1400 mg Zn kg−1 dry mass thus indicating that this species could play an important role in the phytoremediation of Zn-polluted areas.

► We evaluate the Zn tolerance and accumulation potential of Limoniastrum monopetalum.
► L. monopetalum can survive external Zn concentrations of up to 130 mmol l−1.
► L. monopetalum is almost unaffected by leaf concentrations up to 1400 mg Zn kg−1.
► L. monopetalum may be useful in the phytoremediation of Zn-polluted soils.