z Katedry Sadownictwa i Przyrodniczych Podstaw Ogrodnictwa
Szkoły Głównej Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego w Warszawie
Abstract. In recent years, new area of biotechnology – phytoremediation is fast developing technology. It consists the use of plants for cleaning up soil, water and air from harmful pollutants. Plants that are proposed for phytoextraction should be tolerant to toxic compounds, produce great amount of biomass and accumulate in high level contaminants in easy collectable organs. In phytoremediation of urban areas ornamental plants are recommended. The aim of this study is evaluation of tree species grown in cities: Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust), Caragana arborescens Lam. (siberian pea shrub) and Laburnum anagyroides Medik (golden rains) for their usefulness in phytoremediation of organic pollutants and heavy metals.
Key words:
phytoremediation, lead, waxes, trees
Summary
In this paper usefulness for phytoremediation of three woody species honey locust, Siberian pea shrub and golden rains were tested. In first experiment seedlins were kept 4 weeks in nutrient solution with Pb (45 mg Pb dm-3 supplied as Pb(NO3)2). After harvest fresh and dry weights were recorded. During the field experiment leaves, one and two-year old steams of woody plants, grown near busy streets were collected. In all cases accumulation of Pb was measured by atomic emission spectroscopy (AAS). Additionally the leaf waxes was measured using extraction with chloroform.
Tree seedlings exposed to lead, did not differ in morphology and had no visual symptoms of injury due to toxicity of Pb though, their growth was retarded and they accumulated less biomass. Up to 98-99% of total lead taken up by plants was accumulated in roots and only 1-2% in shoots. The highest accumulation of Pb ions was noted in leaves of plants grown in Warsaw’s busy street. The highest amount of leaf waxes was observed in Siberian pea shrub.
Based on our studies we can propose the Siberian pea shrub as a good candidate for phytoremediation in the urban areas.