Foliar uptake of copper by native plants from vineyards: a way to protect soils?

Vineyard soils are contaminated with copper (Cu) due to the use of Cu-based fungicides, even in organic viticulture. Hitherto, phytoremediation to extract Cu from these soils has been limited. This project is focused on an alternative approach that uses inter-row native plant cover to protect vineyard soils from the current copper applications, hypothesizing a foliar metal uptake. Our objective is to determine the mechanisms of Cu foliar uptake and incorporation in two plants Amaranthus retroflexus and Chenopodium album identified in European vineyards. For that, Cu chemical imaging by micro X-ray fluorescence (µXRF), and Cu speciation by micro X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure spectroscopy (µXANES) will be combined. This information will be essential to conclude on the potential of these plants to protect soils.