Calotropis procera: A preliminary survey on its phytoextraction capabilities in Brazil

Authors

  • Newton P.U. Barbosa Laboratório de Ecologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade – ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, C.P. 486, 301661-970, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
  • Geraldo Wilson Fernandes Laboratório de Ecologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade – ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, C.P. 486, 301661-970, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
  • George Uemura Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, C.P. 941, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG.
  • Maria Ângela de B.C. Menezes Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, C.P. 941, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG.
  • Ludmila V.S. Matos Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, C.P. 941, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG.
  • Maria Aparecida da Silva Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, C.P. 941, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG.
  • Rômulo S.C. Menezes Departamento de Energia Nuclear, Centro de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Luís Freire, 1000 - Cidade Universitária, 50740-540 - Recife, PE.
  • Jarcilene S. Almeida-Cortez Laboratório de Interação Planta-Animal, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego s/n° - Cidade Universitária, 50670-901, Recife, PE.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/nbc.2013.83.05

Abstract

Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) is a non-native species that has its origin in Africa and Asia, but was introduced into the northeastern region of Brazil in the beginning of last century. In some areas, the dry biomass of C. procera is used as animal feed. However, previous studies indicated that the species is capable of accumulating many chemical elements. On the other hand, it could also mean that this species may be used for phytoremediation. Hence, we used neutron activation analysis, k0-method, to test the capability of the leaves of C. procera to accumulate trace elements. The study was carried out in two distinct areas (polluted and non-polluted) in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Our results indicate that new elements can be added to the list of elements taken up by C. procera, thus contributing to the understanding of the biology of this plant species as an accumulator of trace elements. Some elements, such as Ba and Sr, have higher concentrations in the non-polluted areas than in polluted areas. Thus, the presence of many trace elements in C. procera indicates that its use as animal feed should be viewed with extreme caution. However low levels of these trace elements in C. procera do not indicate that this species is a hyper-accumulator plant.

Key words: phytoremediation, biological invasion, invasive species, Pernambuco.

Author Biographies

Newton P.U. Barbosa, Laboratório de Ecologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade – ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, C.P. 486, 301661-970, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Geraldo Wilson Fernandes, Laboratório de Ecologia Evolutiva & Biodiversidade – ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, C.P. 486, 301661-970, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

George Uemura, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, C.P. 941, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG.

Maria Ângela de B.C. Menezes, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, C.P. 941, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG.

Ludmila V.S. Matos, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, C.P. 941, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG.

Maria Aparecida da Silva, Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear, Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear, C.P. 941, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG.

Rômulo S.C. Menezes, Departamento de Energia Nuclear, Centro de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Luís Freire, 1000 - Cidade Universitária, 50740-540 - Recife, PE.

Jarcilene S. Almeida-Cortez, Laboratório de Interação Planta-Animal, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego s/n° - Cidade Universitária, 50670-901, Recife, PE.

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Published

2013-09-16

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 3 (2013): September/December

Section

Articles

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