Influence of lead and cadmium on growth, heavy metal uptake, and nutrient concentration of three lettuce cultivars grown in hydroponic culture

The uptake of cadmium and lead by three lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultiva rs was studied in water culture experiment. Different amounts of cadmium (C d) and leaf (Pb) were added to the nutrient solution (0; 0.05 muM Cd; 0.5 m uM Cd; 0.05 muM Ph; 0.5 muM Pb; 0.5 muM Cd together with 0.5 muM Pb). Fresh and dry matter yield of leaves and roots were significantly reduced by the presence of 0.5 muM Cd and 0.5 muM Cd together with 0.5 muM Pb. The higher the Cd or Pb concentration in solution the more Cd and Pb accumulated in t he plants. Most of the accumulated heavy metals were located in the roots. The combination of Cd and Pb in the nutrient solution had an additive effec t on most investigated parameters. The presence of lead alone, almost in al l cases, did not effect the concentration of macro- and microelements. Cadm ium in concentration 0.5 muM Cd and Cd together with Pb caused a significan t increase of the Ca and Cu contents in shoot content of ph. Roxette accumu lated the least Pb in the roots at 0.5 muM Pb whereas Pia the least when bo th Cd and ph were present in the solution.