Bioaccumulation Capacity of Onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) Tested with Heavy Metals in Biofortification
Katarzyna Czarnek,
Małgorzata Tatarczak-Michalewska,
Agnieszka Szopa,
Marta Klimek-Szczykutowicz,
Karolina Jafernik,
Dariusz Majerek,
Eliza Blicharska
Affiliations
Katarzyna Czarnek
Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medical, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1 H Str., 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Małgorzata Tatarczak-Michalewska
Department of Pathobiochemistry and Interdisciplinary Applications of Ion Chromatography, Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Szopa
Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 Str., 30-688 Kraków, Poland
Marta Klimek-Szczykutowicz
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, IX Wieków Kielc 19a, 25-516 Kielce, Poland
Karolina Jafernik
Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 Str., 30-688 Kraków, Poland
Dariusz Majerek
Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Information Technology, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38 Str., 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Eliza Blicharska
Department of Pathobiochemistry and Interdisciplinary Applications of Ion Chromatography, Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
On a worldwide scale, A. cepa is among the most commonly consumed vegetables. In Europe, the leading onion producers are Russia, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland and Germany. In this study, the bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, Co, Sr, Cd and Pb) by Allium cepa L. plants was followed under hydroponic conditions. The heavy metals were applied at six concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg L−1) over three weeks. The quantitative analysis of selected heavy metals in plant tissues (bulbs, roots and assimilation leaves) was performed using atomic absorption spectrometry with flame atomization (F-AAS). The accumulation of metal ions was strongly dependent on their concentrations in the solution and the analyzed parts of plants. The highest accumulation of metal ions was confirmed for the roots and ranged from 8.48 to 5912.34 µg g−1 DW (dry weight). All parts of A. cepa were characterized by the high accumulation of Mn2+. The lowest accumulation was confirmed for Co2+ in the roots, Pb2+ in the assimilation leaves and Cu2+ in the bulbs of onion. Moreover, the study showed that the highest concentrations of heavy metals decreased the growth of bulbs and even caused them to die off. In contrast, lower concentrations of some elements stimulated plant development.
