LAUSR

Abstract Some metals are necessary nutrients for plant health while some are toxic pollutants. In this study, the ability of Croton lindheimeri to uptake essential element Fe or toxic metal Sr was assessed separately. The amounts of iron plaque on the root systems and the levels of Fe in C. lindheimeri collected from an iron-rich field were assessed. The results indicated that Translocation Factor (TF) of Fe in C. lindheimeri was around 1, with similar amounts of Fe in roots and shoots. C. lindheimeri seedlings were cultured in Sr solutions for 3 weeks to determine its potential to accumulate Sr. It was found that the roots of C. lindheimeri cultured in 20 mg/L Sr solutions sequestered 0.05 ± 0.01 mg Sr/g biomass. TF of Sr in C. lindheimeri was >1. Further research is worthwhile to evaluate the potential of C. lindheimeri to remediate Sr contaminated sites. Novelty statement No study related to the sequester of metals (either essential or non-essential metals) in Croton lindheimeri (goat weed) was found before. It was the first research about metal accumulation in goat weed. Fe plaque formation and iron sequester in the biomass of Croton lindheimeri were never studied in previous research. Very limited information about phytoremediation of Sr contaminated media was reported in previous studies, this study filled the gap by exploring the uptake of Sr in Croton lindheimeri.