Differential Metal Tolerance and Accumulation Patterns of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L.

In this study, we investigated the bioaccumulation, tissue distribution and physiological responses to different metal concentration (0.2 and 2 mM) and time of exposure of 1, 2 and 3 weeks with cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) using the model liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. Our data showed, on one hand, a significant enrichment and tissue translocation of Cu, Zn, and specially Cd, reaching concentrations of 1800 µg g− 1 in 3 weeks. On the other hand, Pb exhibited the lowest concentration values (50 µg g− 1), and 90% of the total concentration in the rhizoids. We could observe a positive correlation between tissue concentration, metal translocation and an enhanced toxic response. The results obtained in this study might contribute not only in the application of this species in environmental studies with heavy metals but also as a starting point to study the evolution of metal tolerance in land plants.