COPPER, IRON AND ZINK DYNAMICS IN Rumex acetosella L. AND Diplotaxis tenuifolia (Jusl.)DC FROM DIFFERENT HABITATS

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1 Copper, iron and zink dynamics in Rumex acetosella L. and Diplotaxis tenuifolia (Jusl.)DC... COPPER, IRON AND ZINK DYNAMICS IN Rumex acetosella L. AND Diplotaxis tenuifolia (Jusl.)DC FROM DIFFERENT HABITATS V. MITROVI] 1, G. 2 & B. STEVANOVI] 1 1 Department of Plant Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Takovska 43, Belgrade 2 Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Banatska 31b, Zemun ABSTRACT Mitrovi} V., Dra`i} G. & Stevanovi} B.. (2004). Copper, iron and zink dynamics in Rumex acetosella L. and Diplotaxis tenuifolia (Jusl.)DC from different habitats. Proceedings of the 2 nd Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of Macedonia with International Participation, , Ohrid. Special issues of Macedonian Ecological Society, Vol. 6, Skopje. The perennial herbaceous plants Rumex acetosella (Polygonaceae) and Diplotaxis teniufolia (Brassicaceae) often thrive on different habitats changed by human activities, such as industrial dumps, barren soils, abandoned arable land, drops, etc. The expansive growth of these plants under stressful man-made conditions indicates their significant ecological plasticity and resistance. In the study, seasonal dynamics of some heavy metals accumulation was monitored in R. acetosella and D. teniufolia taken from different localities in industrial zones and at natural, unpolluted habitats in Serbia. The results obtained showed the great deposit of Cu (more than ppm) and Fe (more than ppm) particularly in rosette leaves of the species R. acetosella from the barren soil around the copper mine Krivelj. Introduction The widespread accumulation and contamination of heavy metals in soils is increasingly becoming a problem as a consequence of industrial activity, vehicular traffic, refuse dumps and sewage sludge. In these areas, present in industrial zones of Serbia and Montenegro as well, a change in the plant species composition may take place. Thus, the natural ecosystems subjected to anthropogenic metal contamination represent nowadays the intriguing problem for the general environmental protection. The present investigations have been carried out in order to monitor the accumulation dynamics of some heavy metals in different plants thriving either at barren soil around copper mine Krivelj (NE Serbia) or at slag factory for processing of cellulose and cellulose fiber in Loznica (NW Serbia). The plant species screened for metal tolerance were R. acetosella and D. tenuifolia as these are plants characterized by early colonization and dense populations at these particular habitats. Moreover, they are here in advantage over non-tolerant species. The plant species R. acetosella was investigated from the barren soil around the copper mine Krivelj. This mine is part of RTB Bor, the most important center of heavy metallurgy in Serbia. Bor's smelter of copper exists since Analyses of barren soil of this area showed high concentrations of Cu, Fe and Zn (Jovanovi} et al., 2003). The whole surrounding of Bor is characterise by great airpolution and contamineted soil, so that concentracions of some heavy metals found in plant originated foods and milk are increased. The species D. tenuifolia was analised from slag in surraundings of Chemical Industry Viskoza near town Loznica. This industrial complex is in bussines of processing lumber for getting cellulose during that procedure uses water resources. Waste supstances of this industrial processing contain a large quantity of soluble organic and inorganic substances. Especially calcium, sulfur compounds and some heavy metals are largely present (Al, Cr, Cu, Zn and others). The aim of the study The aim of our study was to investigate seasonal dynamics of copper, zink and iron accumulation in different plant parts of the species R. acetosella and D. tenuifolia grown in habitats contaminated in larger or lesser degree by heavy metals. Material and methods Samples of R. acetosella were taken from the barren soil of the Krivelj copper mine, in May and September, 2003, while the samples of D. tenuifolia were collected at industrial deposition site of CI Viskoza, in June and August, Separated plant parts (root, stem Proceedings of the 2 nd Congress of Ecologists of Macedonia 557

2 V. MITROVI] et al. Fig. 1. Copper concentration in plant parts of a) R. acetosella: 1. flowering plants in May; 2. fruiting plants in autumn; 3. vegetative-rosette in autumn; 4. plants from Stol; 5. plants from Bora~ki kr{ b) D. tenuifolia: 6. flowering plants in June 7. fruiting plants in autumn c) other plants from barren soil of Krivelj mine: 8. M. sativa, 9. C. botrys, 10. L. genistifolia, 11. T. farfara, 12. S. officinalis, 13. A. vulgaris and leaf) are prepareted through standard procedure (washing, draying to dry weight and grinding) for mineralization. In mineralised plant material concentration of Cu, Fe and Zn were determined by AAS (ISO 6636/2.). For sake of comperation samples of R. acetosella analysed from non contaminated meadow (natural habitats) from mountain Stol (NE Serbia, about 20 km distance from Bor) and Bora~ki kr{ (C. Serbia, between Kragujevac and Gornji Milanovac). Accumulation of heavy metals is detected also in some other plants which are growing on barren soil of Krivelj mine, as follows: Medicago sativa L., Cheopodium botrys L. Linaria genistifolia (L.) Mill, Tussilago farfara L., Saponaria officinalis L. and Artemisia vulgaris L. Results and discussion The high Cu concentrations were detected in R. acetosella from barren soil of Krivelj mine, in all parts of plant and especially in root (1081 ppm) in samples colected in May. (Fig. 1., 1-5). It is intresting that large quantity of copper is found also in plants which were growing on natural habitats, especially in specimens from Bora~ki kr{ where they settled the igneous rock gabro. In addition, in all other plants from barren soil of Krivelj mine concentration of copper was slightly inlarged in relation to quantity which is considered optimal (2-20 ppm) for most flowering plants (Fig. 1., 8-13). Unlikely, the quantity of Cu in the species D. tenuifolia, from industrial deposition site CI Viskoza, varies in range which is more or less within normal limit. Slightly larger concentration is found in plants in spring in respect to that recorded in autumn period. (Fig. 1., 6-7). The quantity of iron in all plants investigated was mostly in limits which are considered optimal for majority of plants ( ppm). Slightly larger concentrations are detected in R. acetosella, especially in the leaves (average 1253 ppm) in phase of flowering during May, and also in the stems of fruiting plant samples in September (1250 ppm). Furthermore, in other plants from this habitat concentration of iron was always larger in leaves in relation to root and stem. (Fig. 2.). Among them, the leaves of species Cnenopodium botrys and Saponaria officinalis as well as Tussilago farfara especially characterised with larger quantity of iron. Species D. tenuifolia exhibited the similar distribution of iron between the plant parts as well as all other plants analysed. It is worth to mention that lesser concentration of iron is detected in spring period, while in autumn its exceptional increase in rosette leaves is recorded (1203 ppm). Concentration of zink was mostly in limits considered optimal in all species investigated ( ppm). Slightly larger quantities are detected in root of R. acetosella from Stol well as in leaves of the species Chenopodium botrys and Artemisia vulgaris from 558 Zbornik na trudovi od 2-ot Kongres na ekolozite na Makedonija

3 Copper, iron and zink dynamics in Rumex acetosella L. and Diplotaxis tenuifolia (Jusl.)DC... Fig. 2. Iron concentration in plant parts of a) R. acetosella: 1. flowering plants in May; 2. fruiting plants in autumn; 3. vegetative-rosette in autumn; 4. plants from Stol; 5. plants from Bora~ki kr{ b) D. tenuifolia: 6. flowering plants in June 7. fruiting plants in autumn c) other plants from barren soil of Krivelj mine: 8. M. sativa, 9. C. botrys, 10. L. genistifolia, 11. T. farfara, 12. S officinalis, 13. A. vulgaris Fig. 3. Zink concentration in plant parts of a) R. acetosella: 1. flowering plants in May; 2. fruiting plants in autumn; 3. vegetative-rosette in autumn; 4. plants from Stol; 5. plants from Bora~ki kr{ b) D. tenuifolia: 6. flowering plants in June 7. fruiting plants in autumn c) other plants from barren soil of Krivelj mine: 8. M. sativa, 9. C. botrys, 10. L. genistifolia, 11. T. farfara, 12. S. officinalis, 13. A. vulgaris barren soil of Krivelj copper mine (Fig. 3.). Ecological plasticity of species R. acetosella is reflected in its ability to develop the metal tolerant populations which are differentiated from normal populations both by quantity of content of some elements and in their re-distribution between different plant parts. This can be clearly observed comparing the investigated elements (Cu, Fe, Zn), which are generally present in larger quantities in root, stem and leaves in plants from population from barren soil of Proceedings of the 2 nd Congress of Ecologists of Macedonia 559

4 V. MITROVI] et al. Fig. 4. Concentration of Cu, Fe and Zn in plant parts of R. acetosella: K - plants from Krivelj, - plants from Bora~ki kr{ Fig. 5. Concentration of Cu, Fe and Zn in plant parts of R. acetosella: S - plants from spring; A - plants from autumn Krivelj mine, in relation to plants from population Bora~ki kr{ rocks. Aside from that, in plants from population from Bora~ki kr{ iron is always more dominantly present in all parts of plant in relation to other elements (Fig. 4.) The quantity of investigated elements, particularly of copper and iron, in plants from contaminated habitats (surrounding of Krivelj mine and area around factory of cellulose), was inversely correlated in various plant organs on a seasonal basis. In R. acetosella quantity of Cu was decreasing in all parts of plant from spring to autumn (Fig. 5.). Opposite to that, quantity of iron was gradually increasing in all plant organs, so that in autumn period the leaves of fruiting samples were gifted through exceptional concentration of 1027 ppm while the stems were gifted even more (2328 ppm). Significant decrease of copper quantity in all parts of plant in autumn could be explained through their loss via leaching and/or root exudation (Lepp, 1981). Similar pattern of changes of quantity of copper and iron is detected also with species D. tenuifolia throughout the growing season. (Fig. 6 and 7.). Quantity of copper which was small already in spring fell on especially low value (only about 14 ppm) in autumn. However, quantity of iron in autumn plant samples significantly increased, so that in leaves (1203 ppm) it past over optimal value of this element commonly characteristic for most higher plants. Increased concentrations of iron, especially in leaves, both in R. acetosella and D. tenuifolia, is in agreement with well-known fact that during senescence in the majority of plants less mobile elements, among which there is iron as well, accumulate in mature plant parts (Ernst, 1990). However, quantity of zink was not significantly changed throughout vegetation season in any plant organ. 560 Zbornik na trudovi od 2-ot Kongres na ekolozite na Makedonija

5 Copper, iron and zink dynamics in Rumex acetosella L. and Diplotaxis tenuifolia (Jusl.)DC... Fig. 6. Concentration of Cu, Fe and Zn in plant parts of D. tenuifolia Fig. 7. Concentration of Cu, Fe and Zn in plant parts of D. tenuifolia Conclusion Investigations have shown that R. acetosella is very well adapted to edaphic conditions of its habitats, developing discrete populations in accordance to general conditions of environoment. Therefore, its populations are often present on heavy metal contaminated sites as well.population from barren soil of Krivelj copper mine can be designated as metaltolerant, primarily in respect to quantity of accumulated copper. At the other hand, special accumulation ability of species D. tenuifolia is not detected considering that it developed on substrate rich in organic waste. However, strong development of dense populations of species D. tenuifolia on such surfaces, in contrast to its natural population from stony sites, indicates the significant ecological plasticity of this herbaceous species. Summary Species R. acetosella and D. tenuifolia are vigorously developed forming dense populations even on very hostile habitats such as localities rich in heavy metals or organic waste. Dynamic of copper, iron and zink was observed on populations of species Rumex acetosella from barren soil of Krivelj copper mine (close neighborhood of Bor), rich in these elements as well as in natural populations of this species from mountains Stol and Bora~ki kr{. It has been established the significant ability of this herbaceous plant to develop populations resistant on heavy metalcontaminated habitats. Herbaceous perennial species D. tenuifolia which, in fact, inhabits stony open habitats, formed very dense populations also on localities around of factory of cellulose Viskoza in Loznica. Strong development of this plant on sites rich in organic waste approved its significant ecological plasticity. Proceedings of the 2 nd Congress of Ecologists of Macedonia 561

6 V. MITROVI] et al. References Ernst, W.H.O. (1990): Mine vegetation in Europe.- In Heavy metal tolerance in plants: evolutionary aspects. CRC Press, Bork Raton, pp Jovanovi}, T., Jeki}, J., Ile{, D., Adamovi}, V. (2003): Mogu}nost primene mikrobiolo{kog lu`enja u valorizaciji korisnih komponenata jalovi{ta (Potential application of microorganisms in alkalinization for valorization of usefull barren soil components). - Book of abstracts, IV International Fair and Advising Kamen 2003 and IMES 03: Kastori, R. (1994): Fiziologija biljaka (Plant Physiology), Naučna knjiga, Beograd Larcher, W. (1995): Physiological Plant Ecology, Springer. pp Lepp, N.W. (1981): Copper.- In Lepp, N. (ed.), Efect of heavy metal pollution on plants, Applied science publisher London and New Jersey. 1: Zbornik na trudovi od 2-ot Kongres na ekolozite na Makedonija