C. Bernard et C. Lefebvre, The Zn biogeochemistry of Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd.: Within and between population studies, BELG J BOT, 134(1), 2001, pp. 21-28
A wide range of variation of Zn concentrations in leaves occurs between ind
ividuals within an Armeria maritima population growing on Zn-rich spoil hea
ps from an old Zn-Pb mine. Experiments on controlled soil conditions with a
metallicolous A. maritima population show that there is a family (genotypi
cal) component for Zn leaf concentrations. Specific Plumbaginaceae-excretin
g glands regulate to some extent the Zn concentrations in capitulum stalks
and probably leaves. Under greenhouse culture conditions, a non-tolerant co
astal population can grow reasonably well for several months on an highly t
oxic soil, accumulating two to four times more Zn in leaves and performing
better in Zn accumulation per individual than mine populations. Additional
examples from populations of Thlaspi caerulescens suggest the general assum
ption that search for genotypes efficient for phytoremediations must not be
restricted to metallophyte populations.