Heavy metals influence mineral nutrition of tree seedlings

The influence of Cd and Cu on growth, chlorophyll content and mineral nutrition of Pinus pinea L., Pinus pinaster Ait. and Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl. was investigated. Two-week old seedlings were growth for 4 weeks in a complete culture solution and range of metals added as CuSO4(0.012–5 μM) and CdSO4(0.0–5 μM). The biomass of the Pinus species was significantly lower than that of controls only at the supply of 5 μM Cu, whereas in F. angustifolia both shoot and root biomass decreased in heavy metal treatments. Chlorophyll content decreased in all species with increasing Cd or Cu supply. Cd-treated leaves of F. angustifolia were chlorotic. The Mn and Zn content of roots decreased in all species at increasing Cu and Cd concentrations whereas the Ca and Mg uptake and distribution differed among species.