The aim of this work was to evaluate the absorption and translocation of Ca, Co, Fe, K and Zn in plants of Aechmea blanchetiana grown in in vitro conditions contaminated with Zn (0.0, 0.18, 1.8, 18 and 180 mg Zn L-1). After 16 weeks of in vitro culture, root and shoot systems (leaves and stem) were separated, dried for dry mass measurements and neutron activation analysis (NAA). The results showed that the relative standard deviations were 9.1 % and errors were less than 12.9 %. The results obtained for A. blanchetiana indicated that Zn altered the absorption and translocation of Ca, Co, Fe, K and Zn. The species showed high values of zinc in root and aerial systems possibly indicating bioaccumulation of the element.
bioaccumulator; neutron activation analysis; translocation index
