Uptake and distribution of copper, lead, and zinc in dandelions (Taraxacum officinale; Asteraceae) sampled from polluted and nonpolluted soils1

Abstract We investigated the hypotheses that (a) differences in metal uptake exist between dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber; Asteraceae) clones sampled from unpolluted and polluted sites when grown in polluted media, and (b) differences in metal uptake into dandelion roots versus leaves exist for clones sampled from unpolluted and polluted sites when grown in polluted media. These hypotheses were tested by performing a series of reciprocal, greenhouse-planting experiments in which distinct dandelion clones (12 clones, identified by DNA fingerprinting, from each site type) sampled from two unpolluted and two polluted (relatively high copper [Cu], lead [Pb], and zinc [Zn] soil concentrations) sites were grown pairwise in both unpolluted (nutrient solution only) and polluted (nutrient solution + 120 mg kg−1 Cu, 700 mg kg−1 Pb, and 260 mg kg−1 Zn) media (N = 48 pairwise plantings for each medium type). Analyzing the entire data set (including unpolluted and polluted treatments), dandelion clones sampled ...