Cd and Zn tolerance and accumulation by Sedum jinianum in east China

Field survey, hydroponic culture, and pot experiments were carried out to examine and characterize cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) uptake and accumulation by Sedum jinianum, a plant species native to China. Shoot Cd and Zn concentrations in S. jinianum growing on a lead/Zn mine area reached 103–478 and 4165–8349 mg kg−1 (DM), respectively. The shoot Cd concentration increased with the increasing Cd supply, peaking at 5083 mg kg−1 (DM) when grown in nutrient at a concentration of 100 μmol L−1 for 32 d, and decreased as the solution concentration increased from 200 to 400 μmol L−1. The shoot-to-root ratio of plant Cd concentrations was > 1 when grown in solution Cd concentrations ≤ 200 μmol L−1. Foliar, stem, and root Zn concentrations increased linearly with the increasing Zn level from 1 to 9600 μmol L−1. The Zn concentrations in various plant parts decreased in the order roots > stem > leaves, with maximum concentrations of 19.3, 33.8, and 46.1 g kg−1 (DM), respectively, when plants were grown at 9600 μmol Zn L−1 for 32 d. Shoot Cd concentrations reached 16.4 and 79.8 mg kg−1 (DM) when plants were grown in the pots of soil with Cd levels of 2.4 mg kg−1 and 9.2 mg kg−1, respectively. At soil Zn levels of 619 and 4082 mg kg−1, shoot Zn concentrations reached 1560 and 15,558 mg kg−1 (DM), respectively. The results indicate that S. jinianum is a Cd hyperaccumulator with a high capacity to accumulate Zn in the shoots.