Trans1ocation of Chromium in Plant Tissue of
Hydroponically Grown Indian Mustard,
Brassica jucea

Brian Huggett
School of Science and Natural Resources
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste. Marie

Abstract

	Indian mustard, Brassica jucea, a member of the mustard family, has recently
been identified as a species able to hyperaccumulate as much as 3.5% of its dry body
weight in heavy metals. My study focused on the ability of B. jucea to translocate
chromium from its root tissue to its shoot tissue when subjected to different
concentrations of chromium. 73 plants were grown hydroponically for a minimum of 14
days in a Modified Johnsons Nutrient Solution. Five groups of 15 plants each were
subjected to 25, 50, 100, 2OO and 0.0 ppm chromium solutions. Plants were dried, ashed
and analyzed using atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry. Significantly higher amounts of
chromium were translocated to shoots exposed to higher amounts of chromium in the
nutrient solution indicating a dose-response relationship between chromium concentration
and translocation.

Selected References

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