The impact of Ni on the physiology of a Mediterranean Ni-hyperaccumulating plant

摘要: High nickel (Ni) levels exert toxic effects on plant growth and water content, thus affecting photosynthesis. In a pot experiment, we investigated the effect of Ni concentration physiological characteristics hyperaccumulator Alyssoides utriculata when grown vermiculite substrate in presence different external concentrations (0-500 mg L(-1)). The results showed that was higher leaves than roots, as evidenced by translocation factor = 3 bioconcentration factor = 10. At highest tested (500 mg L(-1)), A. accumulated 1100 mg per kilogram its leaves, without an biomass. Plant content increased significantly with accumulation. treatment did not, or only slightly, affected chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. photosynthetic efficiency (FV/FM) stable between treatments (always ≥ 0.8) performance under stress remained high (performance index = 1.5). These findings support has several mechanisms to avoid severe damage apparatus, confirming tolerance this species hyperaccumulation.