Fatty acid composition of tomato leaves as biomarkers of metal-contaminated soils

The aim of this study was to determine whether fatty acid composition of le aves, cotyledons or roots could be used as an indicator of the bioavailabil ity and of the adverse effects of heavy metals on plants. Tomato seedlings were grown on soils obtained by mixing increasing amounts of a highly metal -contaminated soil with an uncontaminated sandy soil, and the fatty acid co mposition of plant tissues was analyzed. The fatty acid composition of root s and cotyledons of plants grown on contaminated soils was mostly the same as in the control plants. In contrast, significant changes in the fatty aci d composition of primary leaves occurred. Our results clearly indicate a re lationship between metal accumulation (Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu) and the fatty ac id composition of primary leaves, with the contribution of 18 C atom fatty acids las 18:3 fatty acid and precursors) being more closely correlated wit h the availability of heavy metals in soils.