Response of Lupinus albus to Pb–EDTA indicates relatively high tolerance

ABSTRACTWhite lupin plants were grown in hydroponics with 0, 90 and 180 µmol L−1 Pb(II) ethylenediaminetetraacetate complex for 30 days. Pb distribution (shoot/root ratio) was 0.34 and 0.46 for both Pb treatments. In the shoots, no decrease in biomass nor in photosynthetic pigment levels and no changes in the concentrations of malondialdehyde and glutathione were detected. In the roots, malondialdehyde increased by 20%, glutathione 2–3.6 times and phytochelatin concentrations 4–5 times. The high tolerance of white lupin makes it a valuable plant for phytoremediation of Pb-contaminated soil.