Effect of leaf and soil contaminations on heavy metals content in spring wheat crops

Glasshouse experiments were carried out in Wagner pots containing 6 kg of soil. The amounts were compared of Zn, Pb and Cd taken up by the crop of spring wheat from contamination introduced into the soil or upon leaves. The heavy metals were labelled with the radioactive isotopes 65Zn, 210Pb and 115Cd. The experiment was performed as a series of independent analyses in four replications. The dynamics of the labelled heavy metals translocation from contaminations sprayed on the upper or bottom side of the flag leaf was also tested. The highest concentration of 65Zn was found in the straw and grain of wheat. Much higher amounts of the metals appeared to have been taken up by the plants from leaf contamination than from the soil. The highest dynamics of translocation from leaves to other vegetative and generative organs of plants was that of zinc.