Phytoextraction of heavy metals by safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) grown on cadmium, chromium and lead-contaminated soils

Phytoextraction, a strategy of phytoremediation, is the use of pollutant accumulating plants capable to extract and translocate pollutants to the harvestable parts. It is a sustainable approach to cultivate energy plant that can be used for biodiesel production in the removal of metal contaminants from soil by phytoextraction. In this study, under greenhouse conditions the removal of toxic metals from contaminated soil with Cd, Cr and Pb was investigated the growth, phytoextraction capacity and mineral contents of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), an important biodiesel plant. After growth for six weeks in soils containing 0, 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 mg Cd kg-1, 0, 40, 80, 120 or 160 mg Cr kg-1 and 0, 30, 60, 90 or 120 mg kg-1, seedlings of Remzibey-05 safflower variety were evaluated for growth parameters, plant wet and dry weights, metal accumulation, tolerance index, bioconcentration factors and mineral contents (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn). The results indicated that Cd, Cr and Pb uptake has changed dramatically. Depending on the in creased concentrations of contaminants in highconcentrations, safflower plant much less than Cd>Pb>Cr have accumulated. The bioconcentration factor>1 for the all heavy metal applications indicated that the safflower plants have the high potential for phytoextration to clean up Cd, Cr and Pb-contaminated soils. Since Remzibey-05 cv. against Pb, Cd heavy metals and especially Cr showed high tolerance, it is accumulator plant in contaminated heavy metals (Cd, Cr and Pb) in arable land for biodiesel production. Keywords:Carthamus tinctorius, Phytoextraction, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead