HEMEROCALLIS AS BIOINDICATOR OF FLUORIDE POLLUTION IN TROPICAL COUNTRIES

In the frame of an active monitoring study at the Serra do Mar near th e industrial pool of Cubatao, Brazil, Hemerocallis was tested for its suitability as bioindicator of airborne fluoride pollution. In a scree ning experiment with various cultivars comparison of susceptibility, c orrelation of visible injury and foliar fluoride concentration as well as comparison with exposure of Gladiolus gave best results for the He merocallis cultivar 'Red Moon', When exposed simultaneously foliar flu oride accumulation of Hemerocallis showed a highly significant linear correlation with fluoride content of Lolium multiflorum, the 'standard ized grass culture' and Gladiolus, well-known bioindicator species for fluoride impact, With respect to the extent of foliar injury Hemeroca llis was less sensitive than Gladiolus, in terms of accumulation capac ity it ranged between Lolium and Gladiolus. In general, the results of the biomonitoring study proved that the Atlantic Forest vegetation in a valley downwind from the Cubatao fertilizer industries is still suf fering from severe fluoride pollution.