Investigation of uptake and accumulation of zinc in Malva parviflora: a population collected from areas surrounding production industries of steel in Ahvaz

Industrial activities are led to entry heavy metals into the environment and food chains. Regarding growth around steel production industries of Ahvaz and edible and medicinal importance of Malva parviflora in Khouzestan Province, Zn uptake and accumulation was studied in this plant. After collecting from the area, the seeds were sown on the soil. Subsequently, four-week plants were transferred to hydroponics system including 0, 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 µM Zn(NO3)2. The plants were harvested 0, 3, 6, and 9 days after addition of Zn different concentrations. The results showed that along with increasing Zn concentration of solution culture, Zn content increased in the shoots during experiment performance, meanwhile dry weight and Zn accumulation in the roots decreased and increased in comparison with aboveground parts, respectively. There was a notable reduction of the root Zn extent in the concentrations higher than 1000 µM. Concerning TF 1, it is supposed that M. parviflora comprises low potential to translocate Zn from the roots to the shoots. However, there is high capacity for this plant to accumulate Zn in the roots and exclude from the shoots in these conditions.