Genetic characterization, micropropagation, and potential use for arsenic phytoremediation of Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 148; pp. 675 - 683
• Main Authors: Guarino, Francesco, Conte, Barbara, Improta, Giovanni, Sciarrillo, Rosaria, Castiglione, Stefano, Cicatelli, Angela, Guarino, Carmine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.02.2018
• Subjects: Arsenic - metabolism; Arsenic pollution; Asteraceae - genetics; Asteraceae - growth & development; Asteraceae - metabolism; Biodegradation, Environmental; Dittrichia viscosa; Genetic study; In vitro culture; Italy; Phytotechnology; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; Seedlings - growth & development; Seedlings - metabolism; Seeds - growth & development; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Phytotechnology; Arsenic pollution; Genetic study; Dittrichia viscosa; In vitro culture
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.11.010

In the last decade, many scientists have focused their attention on the search for new plant species that can offer improved capacities to reclaim polluted soils and waters via phytoremediation. In this study, seed batches from three natural populations of Dittrichia viscosa, harvested in rural, urban, and industrial areas of central and southern Italy, were used to: (i) evaluate the genetic and morphological diversity of the populations; (ii) develop an efficient protocol for in-vitro propagation from seedling microcuttings; (iii) achieve optimal acclimatization of micropropagated plants to greenhouse conditions; (iv) test the response to arsenic (As) soil contamination of micropropagated plants. The genetic biodiversity study, based on Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), as well as the morphometric analysis of 20 seedlings from each population revealed some degree of differentiation among populations. Based on these data, the most biodiverse plants from the three populations (10 lines each) were clonally multiplied by micropropagation using microcuttings of in-vitro grown seedlings. Three culture media were tested and Mureshige and Skoog medium was chosen for both seedling growth and micropropagation. The micropropagated plants responded well to greenhouse conditions and over 95% survived the acclimatization phase. Four clones were tested for their capacity to grow on soil spiked with NaAsO2 and to absorb and accumulate the metalloid. All clones tolerated up to 1.0mg As. At the end of the trial (five weeks), As was detectable only in leaves of As-treated plants and concentration varied significantly among clones. The amount of As present in plants (leaves) corresponded to ca. 0.10–1.7% of the amount supplied. However, As was no longer detectable in soil suggesting that the metalloid was taken up, translocated and probably phytovolatilized. •D. viscosa populations were morphologically and genetically diverse in relation to geographical origins.•Healthy clonal lines of D. viscosa were obtained from seeds and in-vitro propagation.•Phytoremediation performances of selected clones were evaluated on As-polluted soils.•Biomass production on polluted soils depended on the genotype and on As addition.•Arsenic amount was low in soil and in biomass due to an efficient phytovolatilization through the plants.