The potential of India mustard( Brassica juncea L.)for phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soils with the aid of EDTA addition

A pot study was conducted to investigate the potential of India mustard(Brassica juncea L.cv.Liyangkucai)for phytoremediation of Pb contamianated soils with the aid of EDTA addition.The results showed that water soluble Pb in Pb contaminated soils was rather low(less than 0 1% of total soil Pb),EDTA addition to soil significantly enhanced Pb solubility in the soil and increased the shoot Pb concentration of India mustard.The Pb phytoextraction by India mustard shoots was rather low in the treatment of no or low EDTA(1 25 mmol·kg -1 )application.With the 17 5 mmol·kg -1 EDTA application,the seedlings died in a few days due to the severe phytotoxicity of EDTA,however,its shoot Pb concentration could reach 1 4%.The moderate concentration(7 5 mmol·kg -1 )EDTA application had the highest efficiency of Pb phytoextraction.It is indicated that,this chelator assisted Pb phytoextraction technology is suitable in the lower to moderate Pb contaminated soils.