Journal of Agricultural Science; Vol. 5, No. 10; 2013 ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education Screening Ornamentals for Their Potential as As Accumulator Plants Stewart T. Reed1, Tomas Ayala-Silva1, Christopher B. Dunn1, Garry G. Gordon2 & Alan Meerow1 1 USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, 13601 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33158, USA 2 Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Miami Cargo Clearance Center, 6601 NW 25TH Street Room 272, Miami, FL 33122, USA Correspondence: Stewart T. Reed, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station, 13601 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33158, USA. Tel: 1-786-573-7048. E-mail:
[email protected] Received: August 12, 2013 Accepted: August 28, 2013 Online Published: September 15, 2013 doi:10.5539/jas.v5n10p20 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v5n10p20 Abstract Arsenic-based pesticides, herbicides and insecticides are used in horticultural operations resulting in soil contamination around greenhouse structures. Phytoremediation and phytostabilization are two techniques for treating arsenic (As) contaminated soil. Several ornamental plant species, Iris (Iris savannarum), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Tithonia rotundiflora, Coreopsis lanceolata, sunflower (Helianthus annuus), and marigold (Tagetes erecta), were evaluated for their potential use as accumulator plants. Based on dry weight, tithonia and coreopsis were most sensitive to As. Tithonia had an 85% reduction in dry weight at 0.75 mg As L-1 and coreopsis a 65% reduction at 2.25 mg As L-1 solution concentration. Iris dry weight increased with increasing solution concentrations but As did not accumulate in tissue.