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Phytotoxic Effect of the Uranium on the Growing Up and Development the Plant of Corn

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Abstract

The aim of this article is the determination of uranium accumulation in plants tissue in shoots and roots of corn—maize (Zea mays), grown on two types of soils, pseudogley and chernozem, together with its phytotoxic effect on the plant growth and development. The soils was contaminated with different rates (10 to 1,000 mg U(VI) kg−1) of uranyl nitrate (UO2(NO3)2·6H2O). Vegetative tests performed with maize indicated uranium phytotoxic effect on plant height, yield, and germination of seeds. This effect was stronger on the plants grown on pseudogley in comparison with those grown on chernozem. Soil properties determined the tolerance and accumulation of U in plants. A linear dependence between the content of uranium in soil and in plants tissue, including maximal content of 1,000 mg U kg−1, indicates that maize could be used for phytoremediation of uranium-contaminated soils.

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Acknowledgements

This work is part of realization of project TR20016 that is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development Republic of Serbia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, 86 Franchet d’Esperey St, Belgrade, 11 000, Serbia

    Mirjana D. Stojanović, Jelena V. Milojković, Mirko S. Grubišić & Deana A. Ileš

  2. Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun, Serbia

    Dragi R. Stevanović

Authors
  1. Mirjana D. Stojanović
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  2. Dragi R. Stevanović
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  3. Jelena V. Milojković
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  4. Mirko S. Grubišić
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  5. Deana A. Ileš
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Correspondence to Mirjana D. Stojanović.

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Stojanović, M.D., Stevanović, D.R., Milojković, J.V. et al. Phytotoxic Effect of the Uranium on the Growing Up and Development the Plant of Corn. Water Air Soil Pollut 209, 401–410 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0208-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0208-4

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