Prospects for using wild plants of Astrakhan region in phytotesting and phytoremediation of oil-saline soils

Abstract

The article highlights the problem of saline soils of the Astrakhan region which are contaminated with heavy metals due to oil spills. It has been found that the most promising plants in phytotesting and soil restoration are halophyte communities: Asteraceae, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Liliaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae. Most of the families are typical for the flora of the Astrakhan region. The largest number of halophyte species is found in the Asteraceae family (15.10%). Halophytes are widespread in the Astrakhan region. Species of wormwood (Artemisia L.) are found on the soils with varying salinity. This fact allows to use them in environmental monitoring and to assess the content of heavy metals in saline soils. Accumulation of chromium, iron, copper, cadmium and zinc in the organs of Artemisia species in the Astrakhan region is considered. It has been stated that Artemisia is very important as a group of heavy metal accumulator plants. Artemisia species can be used in phytoremediation of contaminated saline soils, where these metals come with oil products. Besides, the wide distribution, resistance to high temperatures, and high xerophilicity make it possible to consider Artemisia species as objects for biomonitoring for assessing the degree of soil contamination with heavy metals with varying degrees of salinity. Artemisia species are widely represented in the Astrakhan region. A secondary effect of using some types of halophytes is their direct participation in combatting land desertification.