The Resistance of Phleum pratense and Elytrigia repens to High Concentrations of Zinc

• Published in: Biology bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 454 - 460
• Main Authors: Laidinen, G. F., Kaznina, N. M., Batova, Yu. V., Titov, A. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-09-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carotenoids; Cell Biology; Ecology; Elytrigia repens; Grasses; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Metal ions; Phleum pratense; Photosynthesis; Photosynthetic apparatus; Photosystem II; Phytoremediation; Plant Physiology; Seed germination; Seeds; Vegetation; Zinc; Zoology
• ISSN: 1062-3590; 1608-3059
• DOI: 10.1134/S1062359018050114

The influence of increased zinc concentrations on seed germination, growth activity, photosynthetic apparatus, and water metabolism in two perennial grasses (
Phleum pratense
L. and
Elytrigia repens
(L.) Nevski) was studied in laboratory and vegetation experiments to assess plant metal tolerance. In laboratory conditions it was established that seeds of both species may germinate in a wide range of zinc concentrations. In vegetation experiments, the possibility of successful growth and accumulation of biomass of both grasses in the presence of high zinc concentration in the root medium was revealed. At the same time, high water contents in root and shoot tissues were maintained, as well as the necessary intensity of photosynthesis (due to maintenance of the efficiency of photosystem II and the amount of carotenoids). It was noted that the established high resistance of both species of grasses to zinc, as well as their ability to accumulate significant amounts of metal ions in the roots, indicates that
P. pratense
and
E. repens
may be used for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with zinc.