Ecophysiological response of Populus alba L. to multiple stress factors during the revitalisation of coal fly ash lagoons at different stages of weathering
2023
Authors:
Kostić, OlgaJarić, Snežana
Pavlović, Dragana
Matić, Marija
Radulović, Natalija
Mitrović, Miroslava
Pavlović, Pavle
Document Type:
Article (Published version)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
The enormous quantities of fly ash (FA) produced by thermal power plants is a global
problemand safe, sustainable approaches to reduce the amount and its toxic effects
are still being sought. Vegetation cover comprising long-living species can help
reduce FA dump-related environmental health issues. However, the synergistic
effect of multiple abiotic factors, like drought, low organic matter content, a deficit
of essential nutrients, alkaline pH, and phytotoxicity due to high potentially toxic
element (PTE) and soluble salt content, limits the number of species that can grow
under such stressful conditions. Thus, we hypothesised that Populus alba L., which
spontaneously colonised two FA disposal lagoons at the ‘Nikola Tesla A’ thermal
power plant (Obrenovac, Serbia) 3 years (L3) and 11 years (L11) ago, has high
restoration potential thanks to its stress tolerance. We analysed the basic physical
and chemical properties of FA at different weathering stages, while the
ecophysiological response of P. alba to multiple stresses was determined through
biological indicators [the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF)
for PTEs (As, B, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Se, and Zn)] and by measuring the following
parameters: photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll concentration, nonenzymatic
antioxidant defence (carotenoids, anthocyanins, and phenols), oxidative
stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations), and total antioxidant capacity (IC50)
to neutralise DPPH free radical activity. Unlike at L3, toxic As, B, and Zn
concentrations in leaves induced oxidative stress in P. alba at L11, shown by the
higher MDA levels, lower vitality, and reduced synthesis of chlorophyll, carotenoids,
and total antioxidant activity, suggesting its stress tolerance decreases with longterm
exposure to adverse abiotic factors. Although P. alba is a fast-growing species
with good metal accumulation ability and high stress tolerance, it has poor
stabilisation potential for substrates with high As and B concentrations, making it
highly unsuitable for revitalising such habitats.
Note:
Paper published in 2024
Keywords:
Populus alba; fly ash; revitalisation; multiple abiotic stresses; potentially toxic elements; ecophysiological responseSource:
Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023, 14, 1337700-Funding / projects:
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200007 (University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković') (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200007)
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1337700
ISSN: 1664-462X
PubMed: 38269133