There is no information yet about plant
species capable of accumulating many different metals/metalloids. The plants feasible for phytoremediation aims must grow fast, have high biomass, deep
roots, and should accumulate and tolerate a range of
toxicants in their aerial parts. In our research, greenhouse and field experiments have been performed to
investigate accumulation and tolerance of not wellstudied trace elements such as Br, Eu, Sc, Th (and also
U) in couch grass and wheat. We compared bioaccumulation abilities of the plants with those of some
other plant species grown under the same conditions.
Additionally, we tested the effects of inoculation of
seeds with Cellulomonas bacteria on phytoextraction
of the trace elements from contaminated soils. For
determination of elements, we used neutron activation
analysis and ICP-MS. It was found that couch grass
and wheat can grow in heavily contaminated soils and
accumulate different toxic trace elements to levels that
exceed physiological requirements typical for most
plant species. Infection of seeds with bacteria resulted
in a significant increase in the uptake of various trace
elements and their translocation to upper plant parts.
The use of couch grass and/or wheat, either alone or in
combination with microorganisms, is a promising way
to phytoextract metals/metalloids from contaminated
soils.