Six-week old sunflower seedlings, cv. Ogrodowy, were treated with 0, 15, 45 and 60 mg Pb dm-3, and then the content of lead and selected physiological and biochemical parameters were measured. Photosynthesis efficiency, water relations (intensity of transpiration, relative water content (RWC)) and gene-encoding metallothionein were measured three times after 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure to Pb. The content of glutathione and lead was analysed after 72 hours’ exposure to Pb. Most of the lead uptake was accumulated in the roots, then in the stems and leaves, but when re-calculated per plant dry weight, the uptake of the metal did not depend on the lead dose applied. The highest 60 mg Pb dm-3 treatment was accompanied by a significant decrease in dry weight content. Moreover, most of the lead taken up in these plants was transported to the stems and leaves (23.6% of total lead uptake). The lead doses used in this study did not affect the intensity of photosynthesis, but a decrease in transpiration and relative water content was observed. The glutathione level in the plants varied depending on the organ examined and the Pb concentration in the treatment. The expression of the metallothionein gene HaMT1 was observed in the stems only. These results indicate that the sunflower cultivar Ogrodowy is a promising plant for phytoremediation of lead-polluted soils.

20.2.2015