Abstract:
Objective The aim was to investigate the effect and mechanism of spraying exogenous phytohormones (abscisic acid ABA and salicylic acid SA) to regulate the remediation of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil by the tolerant plant castor, thereby to elucidate the differences of exogenous phytohormones in regulating the migration and transformation of Cd in the soil-plant-system.
Method The castor (Ricinus communis L.) was used as a test plant by carrying out pot experiments. Foliar sprays of salicylic acid (SA) at 0.1 mmol L−1 (SA1) and 0.8 mmol L−1 (SA2) and abscisic acid (ABA) at 1 µmol L−1 (ABA1) and 20 µmol L−1 (ABA2) were applied, respectively. The effects of exogenous phytohormones on growth, photosynthetic pigments, and Cd transport coefficients of castor bean plant, as well as the rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties and Cd fractions were investigated.
Result ① ABA treatment significantly promoted castor growth (biomass elevated by 6.53% to 7.53% compared with CK), and its growth-promoting effect was superior to that of SA. ② ABA and SA treatments significantly increased the Cd content in castor roots (increased by 23.54% to 95.55%), but inhibited Cd translocation to the aboveground (TF decreased by 23.22% to 37.26%). ③ Both ABA1 and ABA2 treatments significantly reduced rhizosphere soil DOC (by 24.76% to 25.48% compared to CK), and SA2 treatment significantly increased rhizosphere soil DOC (by 38.34% compared to CK). The content of fuselic acid like after SA treatment was significantly higher than CK. ④ ABA1 and SA1 treatments reduced the rhizosphere soil ion-exchange state (F1-Cd) and increased the adsorption state (F2-Cd). The F1-Cd of ABA1 and SA1 treatments were reduced by 9.41% and 4.52% compared with that of CK, respectively. The F2-Cd was increased by 24.95% and 31.60%, and the low-concentration phytohormone treatments were the most significant for the enhancement of the bio-effectiveness of Cd.
Conclusion Spraying appropriate concentrations of exogenous plant hormones could remodel the morphological distribution of rhizosphere Cd, regulate the Cd transport process in plants and strengthen the phytoremediation effect. The foliar spraying of 1 µmol L−1 ABA had the best effect.