Excess of heavy metals in agricultural soils is a matter of concern since it may decrease economic yield as a result of toxicity and lower product quality as a result of metal accumulation in edible plant parts. Among plant species and among cultivars within species a natural variation in uptake, translocation and distribution of trace elements occur. The transference of Cd and Zn, from soil to two lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars grown in greenhouse, was evaluated in separate experiments for Cd and Zn.Plant dry and fresh matter yield and plant Cd and Zn concentrations were determined. Cultivar CRV showed greater potential for yield than CMM in both experiments. Cadmium and Zn translocation from roots to shoots increased with the increase of soil Cd or Zn, for both cultivars. There was Cd translocation from young to old leaves in CMM but not in CRV whereas for Zn it occurred in both cultivars, being higher in CRV. In both cultivars, old leaves had higher Cd and Zn concentrations (and lower dry matter yield) than young leaves. The CRV and CMM cultivars accumulate Cd differently in the leaves and the higher accumulation occurs in the former. Cultivar CRV also accumulates more Zn compared to CMM.
cadmium; food quality; lettuce; plant nutrition; soil; zinc
