Pteridium aquilinum (Dennstaedtiaceae), a Novel Hyperaccumulator Species of Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) is a highly toxic environmental pollutant produced as byproduct of stainless steel manufacture and leather tanning. Several vegetal Cr VI-accumulating species have been investigated in phytoremediation, promising technology to remove heavy metals from soils water bodies. The aim this work was test the sensitivity, accumulation remotion VI both life cycle phases fern Pteridium aquilinum. Both gametophytes sporophytes were obtained (in vitro) evaluated vitro using hydroponics) under controlled temperature, photoperiod humidity conditions. One-month exposed K2Cr2O7 (0, 50, 200, 600 800 µM). Four-month 800, 1600 6400 µM) hydroponic harvested at 24, 28, 72 168 h post-exposure, biomass, chlorophyll content (a b) amount tissues culture medium tested. results indicate that are not sensitive VI, since chlorosis reduction biomass observed. accumulated up 915 mg Cr×Kg−1 DW, while 11,854 Cr×kg−1 DW underground parts. showed higher uptake rhizomes adventitious roots, despite having low translocation index toward leaves, these reached high concentrations well (2240 DW). Given capacity sporophytes, places within top five with highest accumulation, it may be successfully used phytoremediation methods.