Smilax aspera L. an evergreen Mediterranean climber for phytoremediation

Plants to be used in phytoremediation of mine spoil soils in the Mediterranean area need multi-stress resistance not only including metal tolerance, but also tolerance to seasonal drought and heat. Smilax aspera L., an evergreen climber, is frequently found on metal polluted soils under Mediterranean climate. Here the accumulation of selected alkaline earth elements (Ba, Ca, Sr) and heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd) in leaves of S. aspera growing on and off spoils of an ancient galena/barite mine, located in NE Spain, was analyzed. S. aspera was found to efficiently restrict metal accumulation in the leaves. This indicates low risk for food chain transfer of polluting metals when S. aspera is used in phytostabilization technologies.

► Smilax aspera is well adapted to stress on mine spoils in the Mediterranean area. ► Leaf accumulation of metals in S. aspera from galena/barite mine was analyzed. ► Highly efficient leaf metal exclusion in S. aspera ► Low risk for metal transfer in food chain from S. aspera. ► Smilax aspera is a potentially useful species in phytostabilization.