Determination of Isotopic Ratios and Metal Concentrations in Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacco)

ABSTRACTIsotopic (δD, δ13C, and δ18O) and metal concentrations are reported for leaves, nervure, stems, and roots of N. tabacum grown in three parcels differentiated by the isotopic composition of irrigated water (deuterium enriched water, tap water, and deuterium depleted water). A linear correlation was observed between isotopic values (δD and δ18O) of water extracted from nervures and leaves with the isotopic composition of the irrigation water. The 13C-depletion in leaves was observed for all three groups in roots and stems. For the evaluation of heavy metals in N. tabacum, transfer factor values were determined. The highest values of the cadmium transfer factor, between 12.83 and 14.11 for nervure and leaves, were obtained for plants irrigated with enriched deuterium water. Also, transfer factors exceeding one were obtained for zinc in stems, nervure, and leaves from the first group. The correlations between heavy metals were made by using Pearson correlation. From cluster analysis, three groups were...