Determinación del efecto Fitoestabilizador de hierro y cromo asociado a las micorrizas arbusculares en dos plantas pteridofitas para la remediación de sedimentos provenientes del estero salado, Guayaquil-Ecuador

Abstract

The Estero Salado has heavy metal contamination that impacts the biodiversity of the ecosystem. This study aims to establish a bioprospecting of arbuscular mycorrhizae in two pteridophyte plants to mitigate Fe and Cr contamination in the sediment of the Estero Salado, thus evaluating the phytoremediation potential to mitigate iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr). Through greenhouse bioassays, seedlings were exposed to sediment treatments artificially contaminated with increasing concentrations of these metals. The results showed bioaccumulation factors of 2,9 (Fe) and 2,8 (Cr) in the species Dryopteris filix-mas and 1,6 (Fe) and 3,5 (Cr) in the species Pityrogramma ebenea, confirming absorption in roots. On the other hand, the translocation factor for each species was 0,117 (Fe), 0,148 (Cr) and 0,071 (Fe), 0,091 (Cr) respectively. The increase of about 80% in mycorrhizal colonization under metallic stress was also recorded. In conclusion, these fern species and their associated mycorrhizae have a high capacity to phytoremediate Fe and Cr in sediments of the Estero. Further studies applied in situ are recommended to subsequently implement a metal bioremediation program integrated to the rehabilitation of the wetland.