PARENT SESSION
WA3 SPECIAL SYMPOSIUM: Effect assessment in marshlands and areas of high eocological value: the "Aznalcollar accident, Spain" case study
9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Wednesday, 09 May 2001
Session Chair: J. Blasco
Room 3

(310) USE OF NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY TO EVALUATE HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN BRASSICA JUNCEA IN POLLUTED SOILS OF THE GUADIAMAR RIVER AREA.

FONT, RAFAEL¹, DEL RIO, MERCEDES¹, FERNANDEZ-MARTINEZ, JOSE ¹, DOMINGUEZ-GIMENEZ, JUAN², DE HARO, ANTONIO¹, ^{1 2}

ABSTRACT- Phytoremediation is emerging as a potential solution for the remediation of contaminated soils. The success of phytoremediation is dependant on several factors such as the capacity of accumulating high concentrations of metal to the shoots of plants and to produce high biomass. A rapid screening method of plants possessing the ability to tolerate and accumulate heavy metals (Pb, Zn and Cu) has been developed. This method is based on Near-infrared reflectance (NIRS). We used this technique to evaluate 123 accessions of Brassica juncea (L. Czern & Coss) from contaminated soil after the toxic spill of the Aznalcollar mine (Southern Spain). Other parameters such as shoot and root dry weight and density of plant were quantified by determining the phytotoxic effects of heavy metal. The results of this study indicated that several accessions display sufficient tolerance and capacity for uptaking heavy metals from polluted soils to be used for phytoremediating.

Key words: Brassica juncea, phytoremediation, heavy metals, NIRS