Clonal differences in mercury tolerance, accumulation, and distribution in willow.
This study was performed to investigate mercury (Hg) tolerance, accumulation, and translocation within the genus Salix for the potential use of this plant to remediate Hg-contaminated sites. Six clones of willow (Salix spp.) were tested on tolerance to Hg by treating plants grown in solution culture with 0 to 15 microM HgCl(2). Results showed that willow had a large variation in its sensitivity to Hg. However, the accumulation and translocation of Hg to shoots was similar in the eight tested willow clones as shown by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry analysis when plants were treated with 0.5 microM HgCl(2) in a nutrient solution. The majority of total Hg accumulated was localized to the roots, whereas only 0.45 to 0.62% of the total Hg accumulated via roots was translocated to the shoots. Thus, the root system is the main tissue of willow that accumulates Hg and the majority of the Hg in the root system (80%) was bound in the cell wall.
Wang
Yaodong
Y
Department of Botany, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. yaodong.wang@botan.su.se
Greger
Maria
M
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots; D032108:Salix / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008628:Mercury