Prosopis laevigata a potential chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) hyperaccumulator desert plant

The bioaccumulation of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in Prosopis laevigata and the effect of these heavy metals on plant growth were assessed. P. laevigata seeds were cultured during 50 days on modified Murashige–Skoog medium supplemented with four different concentrations of Cr(VI) (0–3.4 mM) and Cd(II) (0–2.2 mM), respectively. Heavy metals did not stop germination, but smaller plants with fewer leaves and secondary roots were produced. Seedlings showed an accumulation of 8176 and 21,437 mg Cd kg−1 and of 5461 and 8090 mg Cr kg−1 dry weight, in shoot and root, when cultured with 0.65 mM Cd(II) and 3.4 mM Cr(VI), respectively. These results indicated that significant translocation from the roots unto aerial parts took place. A bioaccumulation factor greater than 100 for Cd and 24 for Cr was exhibited by the seedlings. P. laevigata can be considered as a potential hyperaccumulator of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) species and considered as a promising candidate for phytoremediation purposes.