XVI International Botanical Congess

The absorption of cadmium by plants has not been extensively studied in Ukraine until recently. The intensive studies on the Cd content of plants tissue in recent years result from reports demonstrating potential health hazards of cadmium. Majority species of Fabaceae and Poaceae families that exist in Ukraine find their forage utilization. We used X-ray-fluorescent method to determine content of Cd in plants that grow in polluted regions. The concentration of cadmium in species of Poaceae family: Agropyron pectinatum 0-0.629, Arrhenatherum elatius 0-0.483, Avena sativa 0-0.596, Bromopsis inermis 0-0.734, Phleum phleoides 0-0.538 mg/g. The concentration of cadmium in species of Fabaceae family: Medicago sativa 0-0.844, Melilotus albus 0-0.640, Lathyrus tuberosus -0.580, Trifolium pratense 0-0.780 mg/g. Different plant parts (leaves, stems, fruits, roots) accumulate different amounts of cadmium. The levels of Cd in soil reaches 0.282 - 0.538 mg/g.