Decapitation improves the efficiency of Cd phytoextraction by Celosia argentea Linn

•Effects of decapitation on C. argentea growth and Cd accumulation were evaluated.•Decapitation significantly increased branch number, leaf area and plant biomass.•Leaf Cd increased due to the increase of transpiration in decapitated plants.•Decapitation is a novel method to improve the efficiency of Cd phytoextraction.

The effect of decapitation on enhancing plant growth and Cd accumulation in Celosia argentea Linn. was evaluated using a pot experiment. Decapitation significantly enhanced the growth of C. argentea. The numbers of branch and leaf in the decapitated plants (DP) were significantly higher than those in undecapitated plants (UDP, p < 0.05). Decapitation increased the biomass by 75%-105% for roots, 108%-152% for stems, and 80%-107% for leaves. Although the transpiration and photosynthesis rates were not significantly different between DP and UPD, decapitation significantly increased the total leaf area and total transpiration per plant (p < 0.05). The higher total transpiration per plant resulted in a higher leaf Cd concentration in DP. DP accumulated Cd in shoots (197, 275, and 425 μg plant−1) that were 2.5-2.8 times higher than UDP (78, 108, and 152 μg plant−1), with the soils containing 1, 5, and 10 mg kg−1 Cd. Results suggested that decapitation is a novel and convenient method to improve the phytoextraction efficiency of C. argentea in Cd contaminated soils.

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