Effect of Salinity and Nitrogen on Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Potential in <i>Rumex maritimus</i>

The aim of the present study was to assess heavy metal tolerance and its accumulation potential in coastal nitrophilic species <i>Rumex maritimus,</i> and to study the possible effects of nitrogen fertilizer and salinity on the characteristics of metal-treated plants. Two experiments wer...

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Main Authors: Lāsma Neiceniece, Astra Jēkabsone, Una Andersone-Ozola, Lidia Banaszczyk, Andis Karlsons, Anita Osvalde, Gederts Ievinsh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Stresses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7140/5/2/29
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author Lāsma Neiceniece
Astra Jēkabsone
Una Andersone-Ozola
Lidia Banaszczyk
Andis Karlsons
Anita Osvalde
Gederts Ievinsh
author_facet Lāsma Neiceniece
Astra Jēkabsone
Una Andersone-Ozola
Lidia Banaszczyk
Andis Karlsons
Anita Osvalde
Gederts Ievinsh
author_sort Lāsma Neiceniece
collection DOAJ
description The aim of the present study was to assess heavy metal tolerance and its accumulation potential in coastal nitrophilic species <i>Rumex maritimus,</i> and to study the possible effects of nitrogen fertilizer and salinity on the characteristics of metal-treated plants. Two experiments were performed in partially controlled greenhouse conditions: (1) gradual treatment with increasing concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Zn; and (2) acute treatment with Cd, Pb, and Cu on the background of different nitrogen fertilizer amendment rates (0.15 and 0.30 g L<sup>−1</sup> N) and salinity (50 and 100 mM). <i>R. maritimus</i> plants were extremely tolerant to treatment with all metals, with no negative effect on total leaf biomass both in the case of gradual or acute treatment. However, the number and biomass of dry leaves increased under high doses of heavy metals, and the effect was more pronounced in the case of acute treatment. All studied metals were excluded from the roots and young leaves, predominantly accumulating in the dry leaves, reaching 250 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for Cd, 2000 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for Pb, and 500 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for Cu. In the second experiment, the presence of increased nitrogen in the substrate positively affected the growth of <i>R. maritimus</i> plants and their morphological response to heavy metals, but salinity affected metal accumulation. Photosynthesis-related parameters, leaf chlorophyll concentration, and the chlorophyll <i>a</i> fluorescence parameter Performance Index Total confirmed that heavy metals had no negative effect on the physiological state of photosynthetically active leaves. It is concluded that <i>R. maritimus</i> plants have exceptional potential for practical phytoremediation needs due to the high tolerance and accumulation potential for heavy metals.
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spelling doaj-art-c81d2f5b4c8f4e11a967970c169f96082025-08-20T03:29:39ZengMDPI AGStresses2673-71402025-04-01522910.3390/stresses5020029Effect of Salinity and Nitrogen on Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Potential in <i>Rumex maritimus</i>Lāsma Neiceniece0Astra Jēkabsone1Una Andersone-Ozola2Lidia Banaszczyk3Andis Karlsons4Anita Osvalde5Gederts Ievinsh6Department of Ecology, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Rīga, LatviaDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Rīga, LatviaDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Rīga, LatviaLaboratory of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Department of Plant Experimental Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdansk, PolandInstitute of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Rīga, LatviaInstitute of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Rīga, LatviaDepartment of Ecology, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, LV-1004 Rīga, LatviaThe aim of the present study was to assess heavy metal tolerance and its accumulation potential in coastal nitrophilic species <i>Rumex maritimus,</i> and to study the possible effects of nitrogen fertilizer and salinity on the characteristics of metal-treated plants. Two experiments were performed in partially controlled greenhouse conditions: (1) gradual treatment with increasing concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Zn; and (2) acute treatment with Cd, Pb, and Cu on the background of different nitrogen fertilizer amendment rates (0.15 and 0.30 g L<sup>−1</sup> N) and salinity (50 and 100 mM). <i>R. maritimus</i> plants were extremely tolerant to treatment with all metals, with no negative effect on total leaf biomass both in the case of gradual or acute treatment. However, the number and biomass of dry leaves increased under high doses of heavy metals, and the effect was more pronounced in the case of acute treatment. All studied metals were excluded from the roots and young leaves, predominantly accumulating in the dry leaves, reaching 250 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for Cd, 2000 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for Pb, and 500 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> for Cu. In the second experiment, the presence of increased nitrogen in the substrate positively affected the growth of <i>R. maritimus</i> plants and their morphological response to heavy metals, but salinity affected metal accumulation. Photosynthesis-related parameters, leaf chlorophyll concentration, and the chlorophyll <i>a</i> fluorescence parameter Performance Index Total confirmed that heavy metals had no negative effect on the physiological state of photosynthetically active leaves. It is concluded that <i>R. maritimus</i> plants have exceptional potential for practical phytoremediation needs due to the high tolerance and accumulation potential for heavy metals.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7140/5/2/29heavy metalsmetal accumulationnitrogenphotosynthesis-related parametersphytoremediationplant growth
spellingShingle Lāsma Neiceniece
Astra Jēkabsone
Una Andersone-Ozola
Lidia Banaszczyk
Andis Karlsons
Anita Osvalde
Gederts Ievinsh
Effect of Salinity and Nitrogen on Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Potential in <i>Rumex maritimus</i>
Stresses
heavy metals
metal accumulation
nitrogen
photosynthesis-related parameters
phytoremediation
plant growth
title Effect of Salinity and Nitrogen on Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Potential in <i>Rumex maritimus</i>
title_full Effect of Salinity and Nitrogen on Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Potential in <i>Rumex maritimus</i>
title_fullStr Effect of Salinity and Nitrogen on Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Potential in <i>Rumex maritimus</i>
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Salinity and Nitrogen on Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Potential in <i>Rumex maritimus</i>
title_short Effect of Salinity and Nitrogen on Heavy Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Potential in <i>Rumex maritimus</i>
title_sort effect of salinity and nitrogen on heavy metal tolerance and accumulation potential in i rumex maritimus i
topic heavy metals
metal accumulation
nitrogen
photosynthesis-related parameters
phytoremediation
plant growth
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7140/5/2/29
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