The combined effects of Cu and Pb on the sex-specific growth and physiology of the dioecious Populus yunnanensis

Shuming Peng; Liuran Wu; Barnabas C Seyler; Xiangjun Pei; Shuxin Li; Yi Huang

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.109276

The combined effects of Cu and Pb on the sex-specific growth and physiology of the dioecious Populus yunnanensis

Environ Res. 2020 May:184:109276. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109276. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Authors

Shuming Peng¹, Liuran Wu², Barnabas C Seyler³, Xiangjun Pei¹, Shuxin Li⁴, Yi Huang⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Environment and Ecology, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil & Water Pollution, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China.
² College of Environment and Ecology, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China.
³ Department of the Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
⁵ College of Environment and Ecology, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil & Water Pollution, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: huangyi@cdut.cn.

PMID: 32135356
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109276

Abstract

In recent years, pollution by heavy metals (HM) has become an increasingly serious problem in forest ecosystems, making their remediation a primary research focus in China. Poplars are ideal candidates for phytoremediation because of their great commercial value, ability to produce large biomass, and high capacity for HM uptake. The individual and combined effects of copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) on Populus yunnanensis growth and physiology were tested for both male and female potted plants in four treatment groups: control, Pb only (1,000 mg kg^-1 PbAc dry soil), Cu only (400 mg kg^-1 CuSO₄·5H₂O dry soil), and combined Pb and Cu. Each treatment group contained 25 male and 25 female individuals. The experimental duration was 3 months. Compared with the control plants, the Cu and Pb treatment groups experienced reduced leaf, stem, root, and total biomass for both sexes, but the impact on growth rate was more severe in females than in males. The cellular ultrastructure of leaves was extensively damaged in both male and female trees but was more severely damaged in females. Male trees demonstrated a stronger Cu absorption ability with a bioconcentration factor 2.30 times that of females. Significant changes in pigment content, membrane lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation (carbonyl) also indicated that females were more sensitive than males to Cu- and Pb-induced stress. The higher Cu and Pb tolerance in males correlated with better H₂O₂ scavenging ability and proline accumulation. Nevertheless, the combined stress from both Cu and Pb yielded greater negative effect on the growth and physiology of P. yunnanensis for both sexes.

Keywords: Cu accumulation; Dioecy; Pb accumulation; Phytoremediation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biodegradation, Environmental
China
Copper* / toxicity
Ecosystem
Humans
Hydrogen Peroxide
Lead* / toxicity
Metals, Heavy*
Populus* / drug effects
Populus* / growth & development
Soil
Soil Pollutants* / analysis
Soil Pollutants* / toxicity

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Soil
Soil Pollutants
Lead
Copper
Hydrogen Peroxide