Tropical Plant Research

Tropical Plant Research

An International Journal by Society for Tropical Plant Research

ISSN (E): 2349-1183 ISSN (P): 2349-9265
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2019, VOLUME 6 ISSUE 3Pages: 338-344

Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link: Silver fern as a copper excluder plant

Chin Hao Mah, Yamin Wang, Si Hui Lee, Zhong Chen, Jean Wan Hong Yong and Swee Ngin Tan*
*Academic Group of Natural Sciences and Science Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616
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Abstract:
Silver ferns, Pityrogramma calomelanos, were observed to be growing on soil highly polluted with copper (Cu), which indicated a possible Cu phytoremediation potential. In this study, the Cu accumulation pattern of P. calomelanos was determined by exposing the ferns to different Cu levels (0 to 2500 mg L-1) in the soil for about 3 weeks. The Cu content of the fronds analysed at 5-days interval showed that P. calomelanos exposed to Cu levels of up to 1000 mg L-1 were able to maintain normal levels of Cu within their fronds throughout the experiment. At high level of 2500 mg L-1 Cu soil content, P. calomelanos exhibited an initial toxicity phase with significantly higher Cu content in their green fronds, but recovery was observed within 10 days and Cu content recovered back to normal level. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) was in the range of 0.005–0.11, where the maximum copper concentration up to 2500 mg kg-1. The frond’s nitrogen content had showed no significant differences between control and treated plants at the end of the experiment. Hence, the P. calomelanos has been identified as a good Cu excluder species which can potentially be used for phytostabilisation of Cu-polluted soils.
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