The effects of lead on some physiological parameters of Artichoke

Lead as a heavy metal and chemical pollutant contaminates environment through naturally occurrence and anthropogenic activities. Nowadays, phytoremediation as a low cost and friendly environmental technique employs the use of plants to remediate contaminated soil. Since the resistance of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) has approved to oil components, the effects of different lead concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 1500 micro molar) on some physiological parameters of this species in hydroponic conditions, were investigated. Results showed that the root and shoot biomass, the chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a, b and total) and leaf area index of Artichoke decreased significantly with increasing the concentrations of lead to 1500 μM. Lead uptake and accumulation was increased with increasing its concentration in the medium. Plants treated with 1500 μM of lead, accumulate 411 and 217.32 mg/kg of metal in its roots and shoots, respectively. According to our results, Artichoke is tolerance to lead, and has a good lead accumulation and root to shoot translocation properties than normal plants studied before. Therefore it could be used in the rehabilitation of moderately lead contaminated sites.