Summary:
Heavy metals, can be uptaken and accumulated in bulbs, from irrigating water,
leading the plants to oxidation stress and, after long term consumption of
cross-contaminated food, causing health problems to humans. The main sources
of heavy metal contamination in plants are anthropogenic activities. The
cross-contamination of food by heavy metals is an emerging nutritional hazard
as there is a proven link between environmental pollution and the food chain.
Phytoextraction is a remediation technology that uses plants to remove heavy
metals from soil. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is cultivated as food and feed
crop as well as for bioenergy production. Sunflower is one of the world’s
leading oilseed crops. The production of sunflower oil and seeds connects
directly to the food chain. It is also being investigated for its ability to
remove contaminants from soil. The scope of our study was to investigate the
uptake of chromium and nickel by sunflower, in a greenhouse experiment. The
edible part (blossoms) was processed during the entire study of the plant. The
study included cultivation of plants in six irrigation lines, each one provided
with a water solution containing different levels of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) as
follows: 0 μg/l (control), 100 μg/l, 500 μg/l, 1,000 μg/l, 5,000 μg/l and
10,000 μg/l. After harvesting, each plant was separated into three parts (root,
shoots, and leaves). Leaves, shoots and roots, watered with Cr and Ni, showed
statistically significant differences when compared to the control ones, and
also showed a positive correlation, both in Chromium and Nickel. The Asopos
river environmental problem, has been at the center because of its unique
environmental damage. Therefore, we are now able to present the benefits of
sunflower cultivation to farmers, hoping for an alternative solution, and a
beneficial way for both, consumers and farmers, in the region.
Keywords:
Chromium, Nickel, Sunflower, Phytoextraction, Asopos