THE SHORT-TERM UPTAKE OF COPPER BY THE 2 PARTS OF THE SEAGRASS HALOPHILA-STIPULACEA (FORSK) ASCHERS AND LEAF-CELLS VIABILITY

At the lower Cu levels (10(-6) up to 10(-9) mol l-1) three stages of u ptake by Halophila stipulacea were identified with a rapid initial rat e, slowly decreasing on the 8th day, after which an equilibrium was st abilized or elimination of an amount of Cu was observed. The ''limit'' concentrations increased with those in the seawater. At 10(-4) and 10 (-5) mol l-1 solutions both plant parts continued to take up copper. T he leaves accumulated higher Cu concentrations than the below parts. I n the leaves of the seagrass the first signs of toxicity were noted af ter 8 days in ''teeth'' cells with the ''epidermal'' ones following.