The cadmium (Cd) phytoremediation capabilities of Gynura pseudochina, Chromolaena odorata, Conyza
sumatrensis, Crassocephalum crepidioides and Nicotiana tabacum were determined by conducting in-situ
experiments in a highly Cd-contaminated agricultural field at Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand.
Most of these five plant species, which are commonly found in Thailand, previously demonstrated
Cd-hyperaccumulating capacities under greenhouse conditions. This study represented an important initial
step in determining if any of these plants could, under field-conditions, effectively remove Cd from
the Mae Sot contaminated fields, which represent a health threat to thousands of local villagers. All plant
species had at least a 95% survival rate on the final harvest day. Additionally, all plant species, except C.
odorata, could hyperaccumulate the extractable Cd amounts present in the soil, based on their associated
Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF), Translocation Factor (TF), and background Vegetation Factor (VF).
Therefore, the four Cd-hyperaccumulating plant species identified in this study may successfully treat
a majority of contaminated fields at Mae Sot, as it was previously reported that Cd amounts present in
a number of these soils were mostly available.