Cu speciation in local pseudo-metallophytes from a vineyard soil to go toward phytoextraction

Vineyard soils are generally contaminated with copper (Cu) due to the use of Cu-based fungicides, even in organic viticulture. Phytoremediation can represent an alternative to extract part of Cu from these soils. After a screening of local plants, we have selected two plant species that were grown in pot experiments. The objective of this proposal is to identify Cu speciation in soils and in the various plant organs by EXAFS. This information will be essential to 1) determine the strategy developed by the plant to cope with Cu toxicity, and 2) take the first steps of phytoextraction and Cu recovering.