Author(s): SANTOS, R. C.; DONAGEMMA, R. de A.; TAVARES, S. R. de L.; DONAGEMMA, G. K.

Summary: Germanium (Ge) has proved important characteristics in human health what makes studies about this element that could be found in soils and is absorbed by plants increase. A way to extract Ge in soil it is through the phytoextraction technique that is already used for other elements. Ge is a cognate element of Silicon (Si), whose study is already more advanced, what makes easier to have some information about how Ge works in the plant-soil system. On the other hand, there is a need to identify the species with the greatest potential for germanium accumulation, for our tropical conditions. In this sense, grasses have this characteristic, added to the high capacity to absorb metals compared to other species so, one can think about using edible plants to enrich them with germanium given its beneficial effects on human health. Given the above, this review deals with the importance of Ge for human health, its occurrence in the soil and the factors that influence the phytoextraction of this element.

Publication year: 2020

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Soils

Keywords: Fitoextração, Germanium, Germânio, Phytoextraction, Planta, Plants (botany), Soil, Solo