Bioaccumulation of Cadmium and Lead by Lycopersicum Esculentum (L.): Impact on Uptake of Nutritional Elements

Abstract

Phytoextraction is an important technique used for the decontamination of areas polluted by lead and cadmium. Consequently, an understanding of the physiological responses to tolerance of tropical species subjected to increasing levels of contamination is fundamental before considering their use as phytoextractors in contaminated areas. The objective of this study was to assess the lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) uptake and the tolerance of Lycopersicum esculentum L. The outcome of this study corroborate that L. esculentum is a suitable candidate for the phytoremediation of Cd(II) and Pb(II) contaminated soils. Furthermore, the concentration of Cd and Pb determined in the dry root tissue indicates that L. esculentum could be considered as a potential Cd and Pb hyperaccumulator.