ACCUMULATION OF CADMIUM IN SELECTED SPECIES OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

In the spring-summer season in the years 2005 and 2006 (every year) three vegetation experiments were carried out with three species of ornamental plants: common sunflower (Helianthus annus 'Pacino'), scarlet sage (Salvia splendens 'Fuego'), tagetes erecta (Tagetes erecta 'Inca Yellow'). These plants were planted in a substrate artificially contaminated by cadmium. Doses of cadmium applied in the experiment represent different degrees of contamination. The dose of 1 mg Cd (.) dm(-3) indicates natural contents; 5 mg Cd (.) dm(-3) - small contamination; 10 mg Cd (.) dm(-3) - large contamination. The objective of the presented studies was the determination what quantities of cadmium pass from the substrate to the organs of the studied plants and which plant organs accumulate the greatest amounts of cadmium. Cadmium was mainly accumulated in leaves and shoots, then in inflorescences. While the least amount of this metal was found in the roots with the exception of Tagetes erecta where the greatest amount of cadmium was found in roots, then in leaves and shoots, while the lest amount was in inflorescences. The greatest cadmium contents were found in the roots of Tagetes erecta, in leaves and shoots of Salvia splendens, and in the inflorescences of Helianthus annus. Among the studied ornamental plant species, the plants of Tagetes erecta were characterized by the highest cadmium uptake.