{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T09:28:08Z","timestamp":1786958888454,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,16]],"date-time":"2026-08-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786838400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Plants"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Mining-affected soils differ markedly in their physicochemical properties and metal loads, complicating the selection of plant material for phytoremediation. This study evaluated Brassica oleracea var. acephala \u2018Pigeon\u2019 growth across 14 mining-affected soils and a growth reference commercial substrate, followed by a site-specific pilot field assessment on a selected multi-metal-contaminated soil from Cavnic, Romania. Plant establishment, vegetative performance, pooled plant mass, and metal partitioning were assessed under controlled and field conditions. Plant responses varied strongly among soils, and final germination at 30 days after sowing did not reliably predict subsequent vegetative performance. On the selected Cavnic soil, establishment was lower in the field than under controlled conditions, whereas plants that established in situ attained greater final size. Within the seven selected field-grown plants, root-associated concentrations exceeded aboveground concentrations for Cu, Zn, Pb, and Mn. The results show that multi-soil laboratory screening and field assessment capture complementary biological components of plant performance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/plants15162482","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T08:05:41Z","timestamp":1786953941000},"page":"2482","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["From Laboratory Screening to a Site-Specific Pilot Field Assessment: Performance of Brassica oleracea var. acephala \u2018Pigeon\u2019 on Mining-Impacted Soils"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6949-7698","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Evelyn Terez","family":"Polyak","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environment Engineering and Entrepreneurship of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 103\u2013105 Muncii Avenue, 400 641 Cluj\u2013Napoca, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1102-4537","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Valer","family":"Micle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environment Engineering and Entrepreneurship of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 103\u2013105 Muncii Avenue, 400 641 Cluj\u2013Napoca, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3275-5745","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ioana Monica","family":"Sur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environment Engineering and Entrepreneurship of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 103\u2013105 Muncii Avenue, 400 641 Cluj\u2013Napoca, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Priya, A.K., Muruganandam, M., Ali, S.S., and Kornaros, M. (2023). Clean-Up of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Soil by Phytoremediation: A Multidisciplinary and Eco-Friendly Approach. Toxics, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/toxics11050422"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Radu, V.M., V\u00eejdea, A.M., Ivanov, A.A., Alexe, V.E., Dinc\u0103, G., Cetean, V.M., and Filiu\u021b\u0103, A.E. (2023). Research on the Closure and Remediation Processes of Mining Areas in Romania and Approaches to the Strategy for Heavy Metal Pollution Remediation. Sustainability, 15.","DOI":"10.20944\/preprints202309.1505.v1"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144475","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2025.144475","article-title":"A Critical Review about Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides: From Mechanisms to Post-Remediation Strategies","volume":"381","author":"Anggraini","year":"2025","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"864","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2005.08.023","article-title":"The Influence of Soil Characteristics on the Extractability of Cd, Pb and Zn in Upland and Moorland Soils","volume":"366","author":"Rieuwerts","year":"2006","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"621","DOI":"10.1016\/j.earscirev.2017.06.005","article-title":"Trace Elements in the Soil-Plant Interface: Phytoavailability, Translocation, and Phytoremediation\u2014A Review","volume":"171","author":"Antoniadis","year":"2017","journal-title":"Earth-Sci. Rev."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.12911\/22998993\/93794","article-title":"Soil Bioavailability of Cadmium, Lead, and Zinc in Areas of Zn-Pb Ore Mining and Processing (Bukowno, Olkusz)","volume":"20","author":"Smreczak","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Ecol. Eng."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1022590609042","article-title":"Root Development and Heavy Metal Phytoextraction Efficiency: Comparison of Different Plant Species in the Field","volume":"249","author":"Keller","year":"2003","journal-title":"Plant Soil"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2016.04.168","article-title":"Phytostabilization of Mine Tailings Using Compost-Assisted Direct Planting: Translating Greenhouse Results to the Field","volume":"565","author":"White","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1007\/s11104-024-06521-0","article-title":"Vegetation Establishment in Soils Polluted by Heavy Metal(Loid)s after Assisted Natural Remediation","volume":"497","author":"Lorite","year":"2024","journal-title":"Plant Soil"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Acosta-N\u00fa\u00f1ez, L.F., Mussali-Galante, P., Castrej\u00f3n-God\u00ednez, M.L., Rodr\u00edguez-Sol\u00eds, A., Casta\u00f1eda-Espinoza, J.D., and Tovar-S\u00e1nchez, E. (2024). In Situ Phytoremediation of Mine Tailings with High Concentrations of Cadmium and Lead Using Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae). Plants, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants14010069"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7760","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms12117760","article-title":"Use of Brassica Plants in the Phytoremediation and Biofumigation Processes","volume":"12","author":"Piekarska","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zeremski, T., Ran\u0111elovi\u0107, D., Jakovljevi\u0107, K., Marjanovi\u0107 Jeromela, A., and Mili\u0107, S. (2021). Brassica Species in Phytoextractions: Real Potentials and Challenges. Plants, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants10112340"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113085","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2019.113085","article-title":"Comparative Assessment of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Genotypes for Phytoremediation of Cd and Pb Contaminated Soils","volume":"254","author":"Gurajala","year":"2019","journal-title":"Environ. Pollut."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100381","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jgeb.2024.100381","article-title":"Phytoremediation Potential of Brassica Oleracea Varieties through Cadmium Tolerance Gene Expression Analysis","volume":"22","author":"Peljto","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Genet. Eng. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Azizi, M., Faz, A., Zornoza, R., Martinez-Martinez, S., and Acosta, J.A. (2023). Phytoremediation Potential of Native Plant Species in Mine Soils Polluted by Metal(Loid)s and Rare Earth Elements. Plants, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants12061219"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Durante-Y\u00e1nez, E.V., Mart\u00ednez-Macea, M.A., Enamorado-Montes, G., Combatt Caballero, E., and Marrugo-Negrete, J. (2022). Phytoremediation of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metals from Gold Mining Activities Using Clidemia sericea D. Don. Plants, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants11050597"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1460","DOI":"10.1080\/01904167.2016.1161768","article-title":"Using Kale (Brassica oleracea var. Acephala) as a Phytoremediation Plant Species for Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) Removal in Saline Soils","volume":"39","author":"Haghighi","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Plant Nutr."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25060","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-018-1636-8","article-title":"Impact of Cadmium on Forage Kale (Brassica oleracea var. Viridis Cv \u201cProver\u201d) after 3-,10- and 56-Day Exposure to a Cd-Spiked Field Soil","volume":"28","author":"Bernard","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"366","DOI":"10.1007\/s10661-022-10035-6","article-title":"Cadmium and Lead Transfer Factors to Kale Plants (Brassica oleracea var. Acephala) Grown in Mountain Agroecosystem and Its Risk to Human Health","volume":"194","author":"Lima","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ. Monit. Assess."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stojanov, N., Maleti\u0107, S., Beljin, J., \u0110ukanovi\u0107, N., Kiprovski, B., and Zeremski, T. (2024). Enhancing Phytoextraction Potential of Brassica Napus for Contaminated Dredged Sediment Using Nitrogen Fertilizers and Organic Acids. Plants, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/plants13060818"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1002\/jpln.19430290117","article-title":"Beitr\u00e4ge Zur Methodik Der Gareforschung","volume":"29","author":"Sekera","year":"1943","journal-title":"Bodenk. Pflanzenernaehr."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geoderma.2004.03.005","article-title":"Soil Structure and Management: A Review","volume":"124","author":"Bronick","year":"2005","journal-title":"Geoderma"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1039","DOI":"10.1007\/s11368-010-0190-x","article-title":"Successes and Limitations of Phytotechnologies at Field Scale: Outcomes, Assessment and Outlook from COST Action 859","volume":"10","author":"Mench","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Soils Sediments"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kumar, A., Raj, D., Maiti, S.K., Maleva, M., and Borisova, G. (2022). Soil Pollution and Plant Efficiency Indices for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal(Loid)s: Two-Decade Study (2002\u20132021). Metals, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/met12081330"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"160679","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.160679","article-title":"Geochemical Analyses of Metal(Loid) Fractions Do Not Predict Plant Uptake Behavior: Are Plant Bioassays Better Tools to Predict Mine Rehabilitation Success?","volume":"861","author":"Proto","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"468","DOI":"10.1038\/nbt0595-468","article-title":"Phytoremediation: A Novel Strategy for the Removal of Toxic Metals from the Environment Using Plants","volume":"13","author":"Salt","year":"1995","journal-title":"Nat. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zine, H., Elgadi, S., Hakkou, R., Papazoglou, E., Midhat, L., and Ouhammou, A. (2020). Wild Plants for the Phytostabilization of Phosphate Mine Waste in Semi-Arid Environments: A Field Experiment. Minerals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/min11010042"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13140","DOI":"10.15835\/nbha52313140","article-title":"Metal Bioaccumulation and Translocation Potential of Three Herbal Plant Species at Mine Tailings","volume":"52","author":"Marin","year":"2024","journal-title":"Not. Bot. Horti Agrobot."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moreira, H., Pereira, S.I.A., Mench, M., Garbisu, C., Kidd, P., and Castro, P.M.L. (2021). Phytomanagement of Metal(Loid)-Contaminated Soils: Options, Efficiency and Value. Front. Environ. Sci., 9.","DOI":"10.3389\/fenvs.2021.661423"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tamma, A.A., Lejcu\u015b, K., Fia\u0142kiewicz, W., and Marczak, D. (2025). Advancing Phytoremediation: A Review of Soil Amendments for Heavy Metal Contamination Management. Sustainability, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/su17135688"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"559","DOI":"10.1007\/s11368-021-03091-x","article-title":"Pollution Indices and Biotests as Useful Tools for the Evaluation of the Degree of Soil Contamination by Trace Elements","volume":"22","author":"Wieczorek","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Soils Sediments"},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"(2026, August 12). Universal Potting Soil. COMPO: M\u00fcnster, Germany. Available online: https:\/\/www.compo.com\/int\/products\/soil-compost\/universal-potting-soil\/compo-sana-universal-potting-soil."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sharma, J.K., Kumar, N., Singh, N.P., and Santal, A.R. (2023). Phytoremediation Technologies and Their Mechanism for Removal of Heavy Metal from Contaminated Soil: An Approach for a Sustainable Environment. Front. Plant Sci., 14.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpls.2023.1076876"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Polyak, E.T., Micle, V., and Sur, I.M. (2026). Soil Contamination from Mining Activities in Maramures County, Romania: An Integrated Assessment Based on Pollution Indices and Statistical Analysis. Soil Sediment Contam. Int. J., 1\u201322.","DOI":"10.1080\/15320383.2026.2703564"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"583","DOI":"10.1080\/01621459.1952.10483441","article-title":"Use of Ranks in One-Criterion Variance Analysis","volume":"47","author":"Kruskal","year":"1952","journal-title":"J. Am. Stat. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"676","DOI":"10.1214\/088342304000000396","article-title":"Permutation Methods: A Basis for Exact Inference","volume":"19","author":"Ernst","year":"2004","journal-title":"Stat. Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Phipson, B., and Smyth, G.K. (2010). Permutation P-Values Should Never Be Zero: Calculating Exact P-Values When Permutations Are Randomly Drawn. Stat. Appl. Genet. Mol. Biol., 9.","DOI":"10.2202\/1544-6115.1585"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1086\/341527","article-title":"A Note on the Calculation of Empirical P Values from Monte Carlo Procedures","volume":"71","author":"North","year":"2002","journal-title":"Am. J. Hum. Genet."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.2307\/1412159","article-title":"The Proof and Measurement of Association between Two Things","volume":"15","author":"Spearman","year":"1904","journal-title":"Am. J. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.2307\/3001968","article-title":"Individual Comparisons by Ranking Methods","volume":"1","author":"Wilcoxon","year":"1945","journal-title":"Biom. Bull."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1080\/01621459.1959.10501526","article-title":"Remarks on Zeros and Ties in the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Procedures","volume":"54","author":"Pratt","year":"1959","journal-title":"J. Am. Stat. Assoc."}],"container-title":["Plants"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2223-7747\/15\/16\/2482\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T08:58:46Z","timestamp":1786957126000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2223-7747\/15\/16\/2482"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,16]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"16","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]}},"alternative-id":["plants15162482"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/plants15162482","relation":{},"ISSN":["2223-7747"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2223-7747","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,16]]}}}