Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) is a plant that grows in a variety of environmental conditions. It shows high capability to spread in various habitats, including fallow lands and brownfield land. The research aimed at analyzing the content of Pb and Zn in the underground (roots, rhizomes) and aboveground parts (stems, leaves, inflorences) of Solidago canadensis (SC) originating from two locations that are clearly different in terms of metal content in soil. Statistically significant differences were determined in the content of Pb and Zn in soil and particular morphological parts of the plant, depending on the sampling location. It has been shown that in the conditions of increased (compared with natural) Pb and Zn content in the soil, SC may serve as a bioaccumulator of these metals. It was determined that SC can be used as a phytostabilizer of Pb and Zn in soils heavily contaminated with these elements. The content of Zn in the aboveground parts of SC indicates that this plant can also be used for phytoextraction of soils contaminated with this metal.

Solidago canadensis L. is a drought-tolerant, invasive plant, characterized by a large biomass of underground and aboveground parts. The aim of this study was to assess the accumulation of manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) in the roots and rhizomes and the stems, leaves, and inflorescence parts in S. canadensis from two locations that differed in soil pH, organic carbon, and Mn and Cu concentrations. The concentration of the metals in the samples was determined by the AAS method; the pH was determined by the potentiometric method; and the content of organic carbon was determined using Tiurin’s method. The concentration of Mn and Cu in the roots of S. candensis correlated with the concentrations of the metals in the soil without regard to the soil condition or its organic carbon content. With a low soil pH and organic carbon content, Mn accumulation per 1 ramet in the aboveground parts of S. canadensis consisted over 50% of the total Mn content in the plant. In neutral or alkaline soils, the amount of Mn per 1 ramet accumulated in underground parts was over 60%. Regardless of the soil conditions, about 35% of Mn accumulated in rhizomes. Approximately 60% of copper accumulated in the underground parts of S. candensis (45% in rhizomes) without regard to the soil reaction or organic carbon content. The ability of the plant to accumulate large amounts of metals disposes Solidago canadensis as a candidate for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals.

Solidago canadensis (Canadian goldenrod) is an invasive plant species occurring in Poland. Canadian goldenrod tolerates a wide range of habitat conditions, it grows in landfills and soils contaminated with heavy metals. The paper presents the selected biometric features of the plant which indicate the possibility of its use for phytoremediation purposes. The analysis was based on the results of own research and literature data. The biometric features of the plant chose for the research are: aboveground biomass (which reaches about 4.4 tons d.m/ha on a surface covered with the plant in more than 70%), the possibility of annual collection of the aboveground parts and their use for energy purposes, extensive roots and rhizomes system ensuring soil stabilization, high accumulation of some metals in the underground parts of the plant.

No abstract

The genus Taraxacum is used in the assessment of soil contamination with heavy metals. There are relatively few studies using sections or species representing this genus. The presented research was conducted in Poland on two habitats, varied in terms of nutrients and metals content. The content of selected metals in leaves and roots of Taraxacum sect. Taraxacum was determined. It was found that in the conditions of increased content of metals in the soil, the analysed species representing sect. Taraxacum accumulate higher amounts of metals in their leaves and roots. Factors of translocation of selected metals from roots to leaves of Taraxacum species, representing the Taraxacum section, are affected by i.a. soil reaction and the content of Corg, Ntot. in the soil. No influence of soil properties on metal biological concentration factor was observed.