African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (13), pp. 1299-1302, 3 July 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Environmental Biotechnology Screening Cu and Cd tolerance in Salix species from North Morocco

Abdelmalek Hakmaoui^1*, Matilde Barón², Mohammed Ater¹

¹Laboratoire Diversité et Conservation des Systèmes Biologiques (LDICOSYB), Department of Biology, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, BP 2121-Tetouan, Morocco.

²Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology of Plants. Estación Experimental del Zaidín-CSIC. Profesor Albareda, 1, 18008 Granada, Spain.

*Corresponding uthors E-mail: Corresponding   author   E-mail:   hakmaoui15@yahoo.fr Tel: +212 39 97 24 23. Fax: + 212 39 99 45 00.

Abbreviations: Chl, chlorophyll; TI, tolerance index; PPBQ, phenyl-p-benzoquinone; PSII, photosystem II.

Accepted 11 May, 2006

Hydroponic culture has been used to compare copper and cadmium tolerance in five Salix species from North Morocco using different approaches. Measurements of growth parameters have been combined with those of some photosynthetic parameters. Tolerance index based either on root or shoot growth allowed to define Salix pedicelata and Salix purpurea as Cu and Cd-tolerant species, respectively. From the methodological point of view, the use of tolerance index based on aerial part growth, appeared most adequate for the screening of metal tolerance in woody plants. On the other hand, no significant effect on chlorophyll content was observed under treatment with either Cu or Cd, in any of the Salix species analyzed. In vitro experiments with thylakoid membranes showed that the effects on the electron transport chain differ for each metal and species used. Furthermore, it seems that metal tolerance at the chloroplast level is distinct to that of the whole plant.

Key word: Salix, heavy metals, tolerance index, photosynthesis.