CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA TOLERÂNCIA DE JATOBÁ (Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne) AOS ELEMENTOS-TRAÇO CÁDMIO E CHUMBO

Abstract

The Cerrado, the most biodiverse savanna in the world, is the second largest biome in Brazil, covering approximately 22% of the national territory. Despite its ecological importance, the biome faces severe threats, such as deforestation, agricultural expansion, mining, and urbanization, leading to the loss of approximately 27% of its native vegetation between 1985 and 2023. Another growing issue is soil contamination by trace elements, such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), originating from industrial and intensive agricultural activities. This study evaluated the tolerance of jatobá (Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne), a native Cerrado species, to Cd and Pb. The results indicated that jatobá plants are more sensitive to Pb than Cd, as growth variables were lower in Pb treatments, as evidenced by the tolerance index (ITOL). Additionally, a hormesis effect was observed in response to Cd compared to the control and Pb treatments. The results demonstrate the potential of jatobá as a species for the phytoremediation of Cd- and Pb-contaminated soils.