STUDIES ON METAL UPTAKE BY PLANTS FROM SERPENTINE AND NON‐SERPENTINE POPULATIONS OFTHLASPI GOESINGENSEHÁLÁCSY (CRYCUFERAE)

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Abstract
Summary: Plants of a serpentine (S) and a calcareous (C) population‐type ofThlaspi goesingenseHálácsy were raised from seed in various serpentine and artificial limestone soils with and without Zn amendment. S‐ and C‐plants grown on metal‐enriched substrates accumulated similar, extremely high concentrations of Ni, Zn, Co and Mn in the above‐ground dry matter; they also showed a marked reduction of Ca uptake, which was combined with increased Mg uptake, in all the serpentine treatments. The fate of the Ni stored in seeds was followed when S‐plants were grown in normal soil. Nickel was conserved and merely diluted within the plant dry matter as growth proceeded. Seedlings transplanted from serpentine soil to non‐nickeliferous soil showed similar dilution effects, suggesting little or no overall Ni loss from the plant. The similar metal‐uptake characteristics and performance of plants from the two populations studied suggests a constitutional metal tolerance within the species and the existence of a non‐specific metal detoxification system.