Uptake and Growth Response of Saccharum Officinarum to Lead Pollution in Soil

The present paper is aimed at investigating the phytoremediation potential of pot-growing sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) to lead (Pb) in soil. The following metal treatments in concentrations were used: 0, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 mg kg(-1) Pb DW in soil. The results showed that, sugarcanes, except for the treatment of Pb 1000 mg kg(-1), did not show any macrotoxicity. When Pb concentration in soil was 250 mg kg(-1), the diameter, burl length and the biomass of sugarcane gained the maximum. The growth of sugarcane was stimulated at low Pb concentration, and suppressed at high Pb concentration. The concentration elevated from 13.58 to 46.56 mg kg(-1) in leaves, 5.92 to 26.98 mg kg(-1) in stems, and 26.65 to 1336.86 mg kg(-1) in root while Pb concentration rose from 21.23 to 1000 mg kg(-1) in soil. Pb concentration in roots was about 5-50 times higher than those in stems and leaves. Though sugarcane was proved not a hyperaccumulator, it could accumulate abundant Pb in plant with its large biomass. The result implied that sugarcane was a promising plant to be used for phytoremediation of Pb contaminated soil.