Heavy metal tolerance of Cardaminopsis halleri (L.) Hayek populations in the Polish Tatra Mts.

Abstract

Nine populations of Caradaminopsis halleri growing on old mine spoil hillocks in the Tatra Mts. were studied. Five of the plant populations showed an increased content of zinc, copper and lead in shoots, in correlation with a higher contents of these elements in soil. Laboratory tests revealed the highest index of zinc-tolerance for these populations. In field zinc-tolerant populations produce stunted individuals with a decreased, by more than a half, biomass as compared with non-tolerant populations.

Keywords

• Cardaminopsis halleri
• heavy metal tolerance
• zinc-tolerance