biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 44:471-473, 2001 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1012456507827

Phytotoxic Effects of Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu and Fe on Sinapis Alba L. Seedlings and their Accumulation in Roots and Shoots

A. Fargašová¹

¹ Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

The inhibitory effects of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Fe on root elongation, contents of photosynthetic pigments, and metal accumulation in the roots and shoots of Sinapis alba were assessed. On the basis of growth inhibition metals can be arranged in a order Cu > Cd > Fe = Zn > Pb. All the metals, except Fe, were accumulated in significantly higher amount in the roots than in the shoots. Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb reduced chlorophyll a, and especially chlorophyll b content, and Zn and Pb reduced the carotenoid content, but less than that of chlorophyll a+b. The plants contained the highest concentration of Cd, and the lowest concentration of Zn.

Keywords: carotenoids; chlorophylls; mustard; root growth inhibition

Subjects: cadmium, accumulation in roots and shoots; carotenoids, heavy metals; chlorophylls, heavy metal accumulation in roots and shoots; copper, accumulation in roots and shoots; heavy metals accumulation in roots and shoots, mustard; iron, accumulation in roots and shoots; lead, accumulation in roots and shoots; mustard; zinc, accumulation in roots and shoots

Published: September 1, 2001  Show citation