Research Information System
Functional Plant Biology, vol.53, no.5, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Soil contamination by heavy metals (HMs) has intensified with industrialization, mining, and intensive agriculture, creating an urgent need for sustainable remediation strategies. Conventional chemical and physical techniques are costly, disruptive, and difficult to apply at the field scale, emphasizing eco-friendly biological alternatives. This study investigated the combined remediation potential of the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) and three Festuca arundinacea varieties (Nilufer, Grande II, and Jaguar 4G) for removing cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) from contaminated soil. Increasing H. pluvialis doses enhanced Cd, Pb, and Zn accumulation in shoots and roots while decreasing Pb bioaccumulation factors. Translocation factors and overall phytoremediation efficiency improved for all metals following microalgal application, with Grande II showing the highest recovery. Post-harvest soil analyses revealed reductions of 57.14%, 20.31%, and 25.46% in Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations, respectively, alongside a 2.69% decline in soil pH and a 5.34% rise in organic matter. The most effective treatment was 1.5 g kg−1H. pluvialis with Grande II. These findings demonstrate that optimizing microalgal dosage improves metal removal efficiency and supports soil restoration, providing a foundation for sustainable phytoremediation applications.