Two ecotypes of hyperaccumulators and accumulators affect cadmium accumulation in cherry seedlings by intercropping

The appropriate hyperaccumulator intercropping can reduce heavy metals accumulation in crop. In the current study, two ecotypes (Mining ecotype and Farmland ecotype) of Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. (cadmium accumulator), Solanum nigrum L. (cadmium hyperaccumulator), and Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (cadmium and plumbum accumulator) were collected from plumbum‐zinc mine and non‐heavy metal contaminated farmland, respectively. They affected cadmium accumulation in cherry seedlings by intercropping. The cadmium accumulation in cherry seedlings was reduced by hyperaccumulators and accumulators. The contents of cadmium in cherry shoots were: monoculture > intercropping with D. sanguinalis (farmland) > intercropping with D. sanguinalis (mining) > intercropping with C. canadensis (farmland) > intercropping with C. canadensis (mining) > intercropping with S. nigrum (farmland) > intercropping with S. nigrum (mining). Moreover, intercropping with mining ecotype of hyperaccumulators or accumulators, the cadmium accumulation in cherry shoots was less than that intercropping with farmland ecotype. Therefore, all of hyperaccumulators and accumulators in this study could be used for remedying the cadmium contaminated cherry orchard, with mining ecotype of S. nigrum as the best material. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 1251–1257, 2014