Effects of nickel hyperaccumulation on physiological characteristics of Alyssum murale grown on metal contaminated waste amended soil.

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of nickel concentration on physiological characteristics of Alyssum murale when grown in a soil mixed with sewage sludge (at the rate of 2.8%). Two types of sludge were used: agricultural sewage sludge (S1) and industrial sewage sludge with an increasing nickel concentration (S2, S3, and S4). Results showed that Ni in shoots was higher than Ni in roots. A. murale is able to concentrate up to 12730 mg/kg Ni in leaves. The highest dry matter yield was observed with plants grown with agricultural sewage sludge. An addition of S2 and S3 increased shoot biomass. However, application of S4 reduced 40% shoot dry weight as compared to the control Ni treatment did not affect all chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The F(v)/F(m) ratio was stable between Ni treatments. Photosynthesis rate (A) increased with agricultural sewage sludge, but remained stable with variable Ni rates from the industrial sludge. The chlorophyll content increased with S1, S2 and S3 but it remains constant with S4 when compared to the control Therefore, high nickel concentration did not affect the function of the photosynthetic machine of A. murale.