The influence of lead on the in vitro growth and concentration of photosynthetic pigments in shoots of the white poplar (Populus alba) clones

Abstract

Heavy metals pollution has been one of the most serious environmental problems today. Heavy metals cannot be degraded and therefore should be extracted from contaminated sites. Poplars are tree species that are often used in heavy metals phytoremediation of contaminated soils. This research deals with the effect of lead presence in growth medium on some growth parameters and concentration of photosynthetic pigments in shoots of four poplar clones from section Leuce cultivated in tissue culture. Shoots of clones L-12, L-80, L-111/81 and LBM were cultivated for five weeks on solid ACM medium. Lead was added in form of Pb EDTA in different concentration (0, 0,5 10-3-M and 10-3 M). The investigated parameters included: length of the main shoot, biomass, multiplication (number of auxiliary shoots per explant) and concentration of photosynthetic pigments in shoots (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids). In general, in both applied concentrations lead decreased height, multiplication and chlorophyll concentration of all investigated clones shoots. Investigated clones differed in their reactions to lead presence in growth medium.