Phytoextraction and Cd Allocation to the Stem of Woody Species Used in Cacao Agroforestry
Global cacao production, primarily led by African countries, is facing a crisis, which presents growth potential for South American countries like Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. However, a significant challenge for these countries is cadmium (Cd) contamination in cacao beans. Agroforestry systems w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1101 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12324/41150 https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071101 |
| Summary: | Global cacao production, primarily led by African countries, is facing a crisis,
which presents growth potential for South American countries like Colombia, Peru, and
Ecuador. However, a significant challenge for these countries is cadmium (Cd) contamination
in cacao beans. Agroforestry systems with cacao (CAFSs) improve soil health
and can remediate Cd through tree phytoextraction. Effective phytoremediation requires
Cd-tolerant, high-biomass species and preferential Cd allocation to stems. This study
evaluated the phytoremediation potential of four forest species (Cariniana pyriformis Miers,
Terminalia superba Engl. and Diels, Swietenia macrophylla King, and Cedrela odorata L.) under
cadmium (Cd) exposure. C. pyriformis exhibited hypertolerance, showing minimal
biomass reduction (less than 15%, changing from 1.619 to 1.343 g plant−1) under excess Cd
conditions, compared to Cedrela odorata and T. superba, which showed significant biomass
reductions. C. pyriformis and T. superba showed notable Cd accumulation in stems (652.99
and 635.39 mg Cd kg−1), an essential feature for wood tree-mediated phytoextraction,
while C. odorata allocated more Cd to leaves (35.35 mg Cd kg−1). C. pyriformis maintained
high photosynthesis (12.8 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1), light use efficiency (0.086 mol CO2 mol
photons−1), and an increased relative growth rate (0.575 g g−1 day−1) under Cd exposure.
Overall, C. pyriformis demonstrated significant potential for use in phytoremediation due
to its high Cd tolerance (84%), efficient allocation to stems (17%), and sustained physiological
performance under Cd exposure. Conversely, C. odorata allocates Cd to leaves
(16%), which can reintroduce Cd into the soil, and exhibits a low tolerance index (54%)
under higher cadmium contamination. Further studies are still needed to understand the
specific mechanisms of Cd accumulation in stems of promising species like C. pyriformis
and T. superba. |
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