Screening of native plant species from mining sites can lead to identify suitable plants for phytoremediation approaches. In this study, we assayed heavy metals tolerance and accumulation in native and dominant plants growing on abandoned Pb/Zn mining site in eastern Morocco. Soil samples and native plants were collected and analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Sb, Pb, and Zn concentrations. Bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and biological accumulation coefficient (BAC) were determined for each element. Our results showed that soils present low organic matter content combined with high levels of heavy metals especially Pb and Zn due to past extraction activities. Native and dominant plants sampled in these areas were classified into 14 species and eight families. Principal components analysis separated Artemisia herba-alba with high concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb in shoots from other species. Four plant species, namely, Reseda alba, Cistus libanotis, Stipa tenacissima, and Artemisia herba-alba showed strong capacity to tolerate and hyperaccumulate heavy metals, especially Pb, in their tissues. According to BCF, TF, and BAC, these plant species could be used as effective plants for Pb phytoextraction. Stipa tenacissima and Artemisia herba-alba are better suited for phytostabilization of Cd/Cu and Cu/Zn, respectively. Our study shows that several spontaneous and native plants growing on Pb/Zn contaminated sites have a good potential for developing heavy metals phytoremediation strategies.

Lead (Pb) contamination is a widespread environmental problem due to its toxicity to living organisms. Hirschfeldia incana L., a member of the Brassicaceae family, commonly found in the Mediterranean regions, is characterized by its ability to tolerate and accumulate Pb in soils and hydroponic cultures. This plant has been reported as an excellent model to assess the response of plants to Pb. However, the lack of genomic data for H. incana hinders research at the molecular level. In the present study, we carried out RNA deep transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of H. incana under two conditions, control without Pb(NO₃)₂ and treatment with 100 µM of Pb(NO₃)₂ for 15 days. A total of 797.83 million reads were generated using Illumina sequencing technology. We assembled 77,491 transcript sequences with an average length of 959 bp and N50 of 1330 bp. Sequence similarity analyses and annotation of these transcripts were performed against the Arabidopsis thaliana nr protein database, Gene Ontology (GO), and KEGG databases. As a result, 13,046 GO terms and 138 KEGG maps were created. Under Pb stress, 577 and 270 genes were differentially expressed in roots and aboveground parts, respectively. Detailed elucidation of regulation of metal transporters, transcription factors (TFs), and plant hormone genes described the role of actors that allow the plant to fine-tune Pb stress responses. Our study revealed that several genes related to jasmonic acid biosynthesis and alpha-linoleic acid were upregulated, suggesting these components’ implication in Hirschfeldia incana L responses to Pb stress. This study provides data for further genomic analyses of the biological and molecular mechanisms leading to Pb tolerance and accumulation in Hirschfeldia incana L.

Artisanal gold mining in Doko, Guinea, has caused severe environmental degradation and soil contamination by potentially toxic metals. This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of indigenous species growing on contaminated sites. Soil and plant samples (roots and shoots) were collected from six artisanal mining sites, selecting 12 dominant native species based on abundance and ecological relevance. In total, 358 samples were analyzed. Metal concentrations (As, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, Sb, Hg, and Fe) were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Phytoremediation efficiency was assessed using the bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and biological accumulation coefficient (BAC). Soils showed severe contamination, with arsenic and lead reaching 550 and 2300 mg/kg, exceeding WHO/FAO guidelines by 27‐ and 23‐fold, respectively. Arsenic was the main ecological risk contributor. No species met hyperaccumulator criteria. However, several species exhibited promising phytoremediation traits. Xanthocercis zambesiaca showed a BCF > 1 for Pb, indicating phytostabilization potential. Acacia ataxacantha , Hyptis suaveolens , and Mitragyna inermis showed TF > 1 for several metals, suggesting effective translocation. Multivariate analysis highlighted Mimosa pigra , X. zambesiaca , and Detarium senegalense as influencing metal mobility. Overall, Doko's native flora shows strong potential for phytostabilization and assisted phytoextraction, offering a realistic nature‐based solution for rehabilitating artisanal gold mining sites.