Morphophyziological responses of Lotus corniculatus L. plants to the effects of heavy metals

Abstract

The article describes morpho-physiological reactions of Lotus corniculatus L. upon the stress caused by the introduction of heavy metals – zinc, copper and lead – into soils. For all reviewed parameters (the number of shoots and the number of leaves per plant, the average length of a shoot, and the leaf surface area), it was established that the change of their values was negatively and nearly linearly affected by the soil content of the abovementioned pollutants. For open grounds, the phytotoxicity of zinc, copper and lead against Lotus corniculatus L. showed the following regularity: Pb > Zn >Cu. Therefore, the plant can be recommended as an indicator for soil pollution with heavy metals. The leaf surface area was proved as the most representative ‘dose-effect’ indicator.