Plant Soil Environ., 2008, 54(2):47-54 | DOI: 10.17221/2784-PSE

Lead uptake by Matricaria chamomilla L.

A. Grejtovský, K. Markušová, L. Nováková
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Faculty of Science, Košice, Slovak Republic

Investigations were carried out under laboratory conditions in a nutrient solution according to Knop to observe the influence of increasing concentrations of Pb (5, 25, 50, 75 μmol/l) on its uptake and accumulation in chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), diploid cv. Novbona. The essential part of Pb taken up by chamomile plants accumulated in roots; only minor portion of the metal was translocated to the above-ground part of the plant. Addition of Pb to the growth medium reduced significantly the root biomass (-46.3% at the highest supply of Pb); reduction in the above-ground dry matter (-18.3%) was insignificant. Pb treatment also reduced chlorophyll content in leaves (P < 0.01). The highest level of Pb resulted in a decrease of Chl a by 52% and of Chl b by 48%. Lead in the nutrient medium induced accumulation of free proline (Pro) in leaf rosette tissues (P < 0.01). Distribution of Pb in chamomile plants (cv. Novbona) and accumulation of Pb with focus on accumulation in inflorescences (drug Flos chamomillae) was investigated in a pot experiment with soil (Orthic Luvisol) supplemented with 50 mg Pb/kg dry soil. At this treatment, the content of Pb in chamomile inflorescences was 3-fold higher in comparison with the control (P < 0.05) but the level of accumulated Pb (2.08 mg Pb/kg dm flowers) was far below the limit (10 mg/kg) set by the WHO as the highest acceptable level of Pb in the chamomile drug.

Keywords: chamomile; chlorophyll; growth; Flos chamomillae; Pb accumulation; proline

Published: February 29, 2008  Show citation

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Grejtovský A, Markušová K, Nováková L. Lead uptake by Matricaria chamomilla L. Plant Soil Environ. 2008;54(2):47-54. doi: 10.17221/2784-PSE.
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