ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Comparative Study of Hyperaccumulation
of Nickel by Alyssum murale s.l. Populations
from the Ultramafics of Serbia
Ahmed F. Tumi1, Nevena Mihailović2, Boško A. Gajić3,
Marjan Niketić4, Gordana Tomović1
More details
Hide details
1Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade,
Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
2Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy – INEP, University of Belgrade,
Banatska 31b, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
3Laboratory of Soil Physics, Institute of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade,
Nemanjina 6, 11081 Belgrade, Serbia
4Natural History Museum, Njegoševa 51, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012;21(6):1855-1866
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Ultramafic areas exist in large blocks or as small outcrops separated from other geological substrates in
Serbia and host a certain number of facultative serpentinophytes. Among them is Alyssum murale Waldst &
Kit. s.l., widespread species distributed in SE Europe and SW Asia and well known example of Ni hyperaccumulators.
The aims of the present study were to investigate the level of concentration of Ni (and some elements
such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Co, and Cd) at several serpentine soils in Serbia and to determine
the level of accumulation of these elements in roots, shoots, and leaves, with a focus on Ni. The maximum
available concentrations of metals in soil dry matter (DM) were 950 mg·kg-1 Fe, 3,110 mg·kg-1 Ca, 4,600
mg·kg-1 Mg, 443 mg·kg-1 Ni, 803 mg·kg-1 Mn, 26 mg·kg-1 Zn, 4 mg·kg-1 Cu, 43 mg·kg-1 Cr, 82 mg·kg-1 Co, 1
mg·kg-1 Cd, and 17 mg·kg-1 Pb. The Ca/Mg ratio in serpentine soils varied from 0.08 to 6.22. In A. murale
plants, the maximum concentrations of Ni were up to 2,926 mg·kg-1 in roots, 6,793 mg·kg-1 in shoots, and
13,160 mg·kg-1 in leaves. Ca/Mg ratio in plant tissues were up to 2.25 (roots), 9.25 (shoots), and 15.23 (leaves).
Cu content in the roots and shoots was high (up to 1,044 mg·kg-1 Cu and 849 mg·kg-1 Cu). This survey suggests
that some A. murale populations from serpentine soils of Serbia emerge as strong Ni hyperaccumulators
and can be used for phytoextraction purposes.