Influence of Heavy Metal Stress on Growth and Flowering of Salvia Splendens Ker.- Gawl.

ABSTRACT

In 2008, at the Institute of Ornamental Plants—Sofia, were performed series of experiments under greenhouse conditions that tested the influence of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn) on species of Salvia. The plants were cultivated in pots under normal soil conditions and the stress was inducted by adding solutions with different concentrations of heavy metals: The following results were obtained:

•	The height of the plants is most affected by the solutions of CuSO4 followed by the combined solutions and the solutions with ZnSO4
•	The branching of the plants is again most affected by the solutions of CuSO4, followed by the combined solutions and the solutions with ZnSO4.
•	The blooming of the plants is also suppressed. The flowers are small and damaged.

Keywords:

• development
• flower
• growth
• heavy metals
• Salvia splendens