Evaluation of two hybrid poplar clones as constructed wetland plant species for treating saline water high in boron and selenium, or waters only high in boron.

Wetland mesocosms were constructed to assess two hybrid poplar clones (Populustrichocarpa×P. deltoides×P. nigra '345-1' and '347-14') for treating saline water high in boron (B) and selenium (Se), and a hydroponic experiment was performed to test the B tolerance and B accumulation in both clones. In the mesocosm experiment, clone 345-1 exhibited no toxic symptoms at an EC of 10mScm-1, while clone 347-14 showed slight toxic symptoms at 7.5mScm-1. The removal percentages of B, Se, sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) ranged from 26.7-45.6%, 50-69.4%, 18.4-24.0%, and 15.8-23.2%, respectively, by clone 345-1, and from 22.9-29.4%, 31.7-43.8%, 16.5-24.2%, and 14.9-23.9%, respectively, by clone 347-1. In the hydroponic experiment, B toxic symptoms were observed at treatments of 150 and 200mg B L-1 for clones 345-1 and 347-14, respectively. The greatest leaf B concentrations of 3699 and 1913mgkg-1 were found in clone 345-1 and clone 347-14, respectively. The translocation factor (TF) of clone 347-14 was less than clone 345-1. Clone 345-1 only showed significantly greater (P<0.05) B removal percentages than clone 347-14 when B treatment was <20mg B L-1. In conclusion, both tested poplar clones competitively accumulated and removed B and Se in constructed wetlands.