Effect of high cadmium concentrations in soil on growth, uptake of nutrients and some heavy metals of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert

The effect of high cadmium concentrations in soil (10; 20 and 30 mg.kg(-1) soil as CdCl2) on the uptake of cadmium (Cd), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and le ad (Pb) and on the selected growth parameters of two chamomile cultivars [C hamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert], diploid 'Novbona' and tetraploid 'Lutea ' was studied. Application of Cd to the soil (30 mg.kg(-1)) resulted in a d ecrease of root biomass by 13 to 30 %, shoots by 12 to 15 %, height of plan ts by 18 to 20 % and number of anthodia per plant in diploid cultivar by 40 %. High concentration of Cd in the soil caused stronger inhibition of grow th parameters in diploid cv. 'Novbona'. Addition of Cd to the soil resulted in higher Cd accumulation in all plant parts. Comparison of Cd accumulatio n between the two cultivars showed higher concentration values of Cd in dip loid cv. 'Novbona'. No necroses were found during cultivation of plants. Addition of Cd to the soil did not affect the content of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in roots and aerial parts in both cultivars. The only signif icant increase of N was detected in diploid cv. 'Novbona'. Application of Cd to the soil caused a decrease of Zn concentration in root s and shoots only in cv. 'Novbona'. The Zn content in anthodia of diploids remained stable while that in tetraploids increased with an increased Cd co ncentration. Contents of Pb and Cu in aerial parts and roots were not affec ted. However, the Cu content was very high in all analysed parts of chamomi le. The Cu values in anthodia varied between 16.2 and 38.58 mug.g(-1) of dr y matter.