PHOTOSYNTHESIS, STOMATAL RESPONSE AND METAL ACCUMULATION IN CINERARIA-MARITIMA L AND CENTAURIA-MOSCHATA L GROWN IN METAL-RICH SOIL

Two plant species, Cineraria maritima L. and Centauria moschata L. wer e tested for their tolerance/sensitivity in metal-rich soils derived f rom iron ore in Lalitpur (Girar), India, which contained high levels o f Fe with appreciable amounts of Mn and Cu. The two plant species grow ing in the mineralized soil showed higher accumulations of Fe, Mn and Cu than those grown in non-mineralized soil. The growth of both plant species in the mineralized soil was hampered compared with those in no n-mineralized soil. The rates of photosynthesis and chlorophyll conten t were reduced in C. maritima but not in C. moschata. The stomatal con ductance and resistance were affected in C. moschata but not in C. mar itima. Overall results indicate that C. maritima is more sensitive to mineralized soil than C. moschata. Secondly, C. maritima is also a goo d accumulator of all three metals and may be regarded as a metal effic ient plant. This plant may be grown for the removal of Fe, Mn and Cu f rom the contaminated soils.