Uptake and accumulation of copper, nickel, and iron by Typha latifolia grown in solution culture

Concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Fe in leaf and root tissue of Typha latifolia L. grown in a series of solution cultures containing 5–100 μg g−1 Cu, 10–150 μg g−1 Ni, or 10–100 μg g−1 Fe were correlated with concentrations of the same metals in the growth medium. In contrast to plants growing in contaminated wetlands near Sudbury, Ont., plants grown in solution culture were unable to minimize entry of Cu and Ni into leaf tissue. Leaves of T. latifolia accumulated 467 ± 50 μg g−1 Ni and did not show toxicity symptoms. Leaf Cu concentrations reached 127 ± 28 μg g−1 and toxicity symptoms (reduced leaf elongation and biomass production) appeared at leaf Cu concentrations of approximately 80 μg g−1. Thus T. latifolia would appear to have internal Cu and Ni tolerance mechanisms. Possible mechanisms for the exclusion of Cu and Ni in the field are discussed.