Corms of Colchicum autumnale L. (meadow saffron) from plants growing on soils developed from five parent materials (melaphire, serpentine, sandstones, limestone and marls) were collected and analysed to evaluate their colchicine content as well as metal levels (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Co, Cd, Ni and Cr). For all locations, (mountainous regions in SW Poland far from pollution sources) where corms were collected, soil samples were taken. In the soil samples, the concentration of elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Co, Cd, Ni and Cr) was analyzed and also soil pH, organic matter content and sand, silt and clay content were determined. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the concentrations of metals in melaphire (except Cr), sandstone and serpentine soils were higher than those in limestone and marl soils. Meadow saffron corms tended to take up a higher amount of Fe and a lower amount of Co and contained in their tissues a higher amount of colchicine in melaphire soil and some sandstone soils than those in limestone and some marl soils. The concentrations of Co, Mn and Zn in corms at limestone site and Ni and Cd in corms at serpentine site and some marl sites were higher than those in other sites. The results of stepwise regression analysis showed that colchicine corm concentration as well as corm Fe content increased with increasing soil Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, Cu, Pb and Cd contents and that corm Fe content has a positive effect on the production of colchicine, whereas corm Co, Mn, Zn, Ni and Cd negative. The corm Fe, Mn, Zn, Co, Ni and Cd concentrations appeared to be the main factors determining the variation pattern of colchicine in C.autumnale corms. The variation explained by these selected variables was higher (79%) than those explained by selected soil variables (53%).
JavaScript jest wyłączony w Twojej przeglądarce internetowej. Włącz go, a następnie odśwież stronę, aby móc w pełni z niej korzystać.