Heavy metal accumulation by willow clones in short-time hydroponics

The differences in Pb and Cd accumulation capabilities of Salix miyabeana, S. viminalis, S. x blanda, and S. elbursensis derived from willows planted in 1997 in coal-ash settling localities in the Krusne hory Mts., Czech Republic, were determined. Plantlets micropropagated by organogenesis were grown in sterile hydroponic media supplemented with 0.5mM Pb(NO3)2 or 0.5mM Cd(NO3)2.4H2O. The samples of roots and aboveground parts were collected after 48, 72, 96, and 168 h of cultivation. Generally, substantially higher concentrations of accumulated Pb and Cd were identified in roots than in aboveground parts of all willow clones, even if clonal differences in their accumulation were detected. The results sufficiently confirmed the clonal differences in the uptake and translocation of heavy metals in the above-mentioned willows.