Scientific publications

The effect of cadmium (40 mg/kg of substratum) and lead (400 mg/kg of substratum) on the content of nonprotein thiols in the root cells of wild perennial grasses – timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and couch grass (Elytrigia repens L. (Nevski)) was studied in a greenhouse experiment. The plants were grown for 40 days in the presence of heavy metals, resulting in a significant increase in phytochelatins content in the root cells of both species, especially under the influence of cadmium. In regard to reduced glutathione (GSH), the following differences between the species were observed: GSH content in timothy increased at a faster rate in the presence of cadmium, while in couch grass – in the presence of lead. These differences corresponded to the resistance of the plant species to the heavy metals. In addition, perennial grasses appeared to be capable of accumulating significant amounts of heavy metals in the roots. Thus, timothy largely accumulated cadmium, while couch grass accumulated lead. Based on the obtained results, a conclusion about the possibility of using timothy for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with cadmium, and couch grass for those contaminated with lead, was drawn.