STRESS RESPONSES AND EVALUATION OF PHYTOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL IN ORNAMENTAL KALE SEEDLINGS EXPOSED TO NICKEL nIckel StreSS and PhytoremedIatIon PotentIal In ornamental kale SeedlIngS

Abstract

Phytoremediation is an environmental friendly and cost-effective approach that uses plants to remove hazardous chemicals from contaminated soil, air, and water. The effects of nickel (Ni) concentration on Kamome Red, Kamome White and Kamome Pink cultivars of ornamental kale were evaluated in this study. For this purpose, seeds of cultivars were grown in perlite and were irrigated with 0 (control), 25, 50, 100 ppm Ni solution including Hoagland nutrient solution for 40 days. Results showed that the germination percentage was more than 70% in all cultivars and applications. At a Ni concentration of 25 ppm, it had positive effects on seedling growth parameters with 76.1 mm root length, 73.1 mm shoot length, 6.7 g shoot fresh weight, 0.97 g shoot dry weight. However, high Ni concentrations negatively impacted shoot and root lengths, seedling fresh and dry weights. Seedling water content decreased as Ni concentration increased. Proline content increased significantly in response to high Ni concentrations in Kamome Red and Kamome White cultivars. The Ni concentrations of the cultivars were also affected, with the highest Ni content being obtained from 100 ppm Kamome White (89.32 mg/kg). These findings indicate that Ni concentration has an important effect on the growth of ornamental kale cultivars and K. White showed significant Ni accumulation at 100 ppm. Although Ni uptake occurred, the significant biomass reduction at higher doses limited the phytoremediation potential of the cultivars in the seedling stage. It is recommended to evaluate different Ni concentrations at various growth stages to better assess phytoremediation potential in the future studies. Copyright © Author(s) 2025.