Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Brassica juncea: Relationship of toxicity with essential elements

Abstract

With the objective of evaluating the effect of cadmium and lead in the culture of mustard (Brassica juncea) and its relationship with the plant macro- and micronutrients, mustard plants were grown in Clark nutrient solution and exposed to increasing doses of Cd and Pb. P contents were determined by colorimetry, S by turbidimetry and K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn of the dry matter (MSPA) and root (MSR) were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Cd negatively influenced the levels of nutrients in mustard plants, except for Cu in leaves and roots, Fe in the leaves and Mn in the root. Contamination by Pb decreased the levels of all the plant nutrients, except Ca in roots and leaves with the highest dose of Pb, and Mg, P, Cu, Fe and Zn in the root. The influence of contamination of Cd and Pb in nutrients caused severe reduction in dry matter production of mustard plant.