Assessment of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn concentrations in soil and parts of Rosa spp. sampled in extremely polluted environment

Screening and classification of rosehip (Rosa canina L.) genotypes based on horticultural characteristics

BACKGROUND

During the pandemic, the interest in colorful wild small fruits increased due to their positive effects on health. Also it has become very important to offer species with high nutritional value as fresh or processed products for human consumption due to increasing world population and decreasing arable land. In this context, we characterized the horticultural characteristics of 11 rosehip genotypes grown from seeds.

RESULTS

Citric acid was determined as the main organic acid in all the genotypes investigated. The mean values of the organic acids obtained from all the genotypes were found to be as follows: citric acid (7177 mg L-1), malic acid (3669 mg L-1), tartaric acid (1834 mg L-1), oxalic acid (1258 mg L-1), carboxylic acid (631.9 mg L-1), shikimic acid (157.8 mg L-1), ascorbic acid (155 mg L-1), and acetic acid (20.9 mg L-1). Ellagic acid was the dominant phenolic compound (90.1 mg L-1 - 96.2 mg L-1) in all genotypes. The average values obtained from all genotypes for total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were 37 261 mg GAE L-1, 526.2 mg quercetin L-1, and 93.6%, respectively. These characteristics had the lowest coefficients of variation, which indicated that all genotypes were similar regarding high biochemical with antioxidant effect. In addition, fruit width, fruit length, and fruit weight varied between 13.0 and 17.3 mm, 20.7 and 25.5 mm, and 1.4 and 2.7 g, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The genotypes were categorized according to different purposes, such as suitability for wine production, making vinegar, etc. While the pomological characteristics were strongly positively correlated among themselves, they were generally found to be negatively correlated with the phytochemical characteristics. Categorizing genotypes according to different usage purposes can improve the agricultural and industrial application of rosehip and enhance their breeding efficacy.

Multi-elemental Analysis, Pattern Recognition Techniques of Wild and Cultivated Rosehips from Serbia, and Nutritional Aspect

Twenty-six major and trace elements, in the seed and the mesocarp of wild and cultivated rosehips from different locations in Serbia, were quantified by means of inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The cultivated rosehip was investigated for the first time. In both wild and cultivated rosehips, the most abundant elements were K and Ca. Among trace elements, Mn (in both seed and mesocarp); Fe (in seeds); and B, Ba, and Sr (in mesocarp) were quantified in the highest concentrations. The higher content of Cu, K, Mn, P, and S in the seed of cultivated rosehip, as well as Ca, Mg, and Sr in the mesocarp of wild rosehip, was observed, both significant at p < 0.05. Additionally, differences between the seed and the mesocarp of studied rosehip were noticed in the content of B, Cu, Fe, K, Ni, P, S, Sr, and Ti (p < 0.05). Nutritional assessment revealed that both wild and cultivated rosehips are a valuable source of essential elements (Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, and P). The absence of toxic and potentially toxic elements additionally contributes to the quality of studied Serbian rosehip. A high impact of factors such as variety, location, as well as their interaction on the content of elements in cultivated rosehip mesocarp and seed was observed. Pattern recognition techniques, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied in order to provide insight into similarities among the analyzed samples.

Role of temperature, wind, and precipitation in heavy metal contamination at copper mines: a review

The increasing demand for minerals pressurizing the mining authorities to extract low-grade ore results in more mining waste and degradation of the environment. The main aim of review was to understand the role of climatic factors (temperature, wind, and precipitation) in dispersal and mobility of heavy metals in soil, water, and vegetation in Cu mining region. The major source of contamination in the mining sector is tailings, overburden rocks, and abandoned mines. The contaminates or fine particles of sulfide-rich mining waste follow two major pathways for the dispersal: aerial and leaching. Sulfides on exposure to oxygen and water generate acid mine drainage which results in leaching of heavy metals. The pit water of abandoned mines is also a cause of concern which contaminates the groundwater resources. Climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation, and wind significantly influence the paths of contaminate dispersal. In arid/semi-arid regions, high temperature forms fine-grained efflorescence salts on tailings or exposed surficial mines which are carried away by strong winds/water and contaminates the surroundings. In wet regions, the leaching of heavy metals from both tailings and overburden rocks sulfides results in environmental contamination. The application of impermeable layers is highly recommended. The climatic factors (temperature, wind, and precipitation) significantly control the dispersal and mobility of heavy metals in Cu mining region. The implementation of waste management policies and pollution control technologies is recommended after considering the climatic factors.

Saponaria officinalis L. and Achillea millefolium L. as possible indicators of trace elements pollution caused by mining and metallurgical activities in Bor, Serbia

This study evaluates bioaccumulation and translocation potentials of trace elements (TEs) by Saponaria officinalis L. (soapwort) and Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) in order to select and optimize phytoremediation methods for the polluted environment of the city of Bor, Serbia. According to the enrichment factor for soil (i.e., 57.9-128.8 for Cd and As), pollution index (i.e., 6.6-84.7 for Cu), pollution load index (2.9-98.8), individual potential risk factors (11.5-5163), and potential ecological risk index values (260-6379), urban and rural soils from the city of Bor were classified as very contaminated with the investigated TEs. The results from all the indices and statistical analysis showed significant ecological risks of Cu, As, and Cd at the investigated sites and urge the need for remediation. The enrichment factor of the plants for As (566.3) and Cd (306.2) indicated a high enrichment level of the herb organs at all the sites. Since there are small differences in metal accumulation index values between the herbs and their parts (root, shoot), soapwort and yarrow can be considered as potential bioindicators. Based on the biological concentration and translocation factors, soapwort can be recommended as a suitable herb for phytoextraction purposes of Pb, As, and Cd polluted areas. Yarrow shows good characteristics for phytoextraction of Cu, Pb, and As from the contaminated soil. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) results indicate their similar origin from atmospheric deposition. Therefore, these herbs can be utilized as a bioindicator and phytoremediator in polluted areas influenced by metallurgical activities to detect possible levels of TEs.

Ecological-health risk assessment and bioavailability of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil and plant around a copper smelter

Soil and the dominant plant species in the vicinity of Khatoon Abad copper smelter in Kerman province of Iran are examined to determine contamination, bioavailability, and ecological-health risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) based on 23 collected soil samples and 13 Artemisia siebri plant species. Cu, Mo, As, and Sb display a significant level of enrichment in soil. Ecological risk assessment shows that Cu, As, and Cd pose the highest ecological risk. The results of PTEs fractionation reveal that, on average, Cu, As, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Mo are mostly distributed between non-residual fractions reflecting higher mobility and potential ecological risk, while Cr, Ni, and Co are significantly distributed within the residual fraction, and do not pose a serious ecological risk. Mobility factor suggests high bioavailability of Cu for plants followed by As, Cd, Pb, Mo, Co, Ni, and Cr. Biological accumulation coefficient displays higher phytoavailability of Mo and Cd. PTEs transfer within plant follows the order of Mo > As > Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Co > Cr > Cd. The results of phytoavailability indicate the high tendency of Cd to bioaccumulate in Artemisia's root, while Mo, As, and Pb tend to translocate towards Artemisia's shoot. Calculated hazard index and incremental lifetime cancer risk revealed that As poses the highest non-carcinogenic health risk, and As and Pb pose the greatest carcinogenic health risk in both adults and children.

Functional Trait-Based Screening of Zn-Pb Tolerant Wild Plant Species at an Abandoned Mine Site in Gard (France) for Rehabilitation of Mediterranean Metal-Contaminated Soils

The selection of plant species at mine sites is mostly based on metal content in plant parts. Recent works have proposed referring to certain ecological aspects. However, plant traits for plant metal-tolerance still need to be accurately assessed in the field. An abandoned Zn-Pb mine site in Gard (France) offered the opportunity to test a set of ecological criteria. The diversity of micro-habitats was first recorded through floristic relevés and selected categorical and measured plant traits were compared for plant species selection. The floristic composition of the study site consisted in 61 plant species from 31 plant families. This approach enabled us to focus on seven wild plant species naturally growing at the mining site. Their ability to form root symbioses was then observed with a view to phytostabilization management. Four species were considered for phytoextraction: Noccaea caerulescens (J. et C. Presl) FK Meyer, Biscutella laevigata L., Armeria arenaria (Pers.) Schult. and Plantago lanceolata L. The metal content of their aerial and root parts was then determined and compared with that of soil samples collected at the same site. This general approach may lead to the development of a knowledge base for assessment of the ecological restoration trajectory of the site and can help in plant selection for remediation of other metal-rich soils in the Mediterranean area based not only on metal removal but on ecological restoration principles.