RICINUS COMMUNIS L.: A POTENTIAL BIOREFINERY CROP FOR SOILS POLLUTED BY HEAVY METAL

The growth of the world's population and rapid industrialization are leading to an irreversible increase in agricultural inputs, mining and production of civil and industrial waste. These factors contribute to the contamination of soil and water with organic pollutants and heavy metals, resulting in serious consequences for plant life and human health. Consequently, numerous alternatives to traditional (chemical-physical) methods have been developed, such as phytoremediation, which employs plants to immobilise, extract or degrade pollutants like heavy metals. Biological remediation of contaminated sites has emerged as one of the most discussed topics worldwide in recent years, thanks to the capacity of plants to phytoextract or phytostabilize pollutants from the soil by releasing root exudates (such as sugars, amino acids and enzymes) and precipitation mediated by bacteria that immobilise metals. Phytoremediation is a biological remediation technique, known for its cost-effectiveness and environmentally friendly approach, which aims to rehabilitate contaminated soils so that they can be returned to agricultural use. Castor plant (Ricinus communis L.) is an important crop that produces inedible oil with a wide use in industrial, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors. The present study was conducted to evaluate the tolerance and suitability of castor to elevated levels of heavy metals (specifically lead and cadmium) in soil.