Table 1.
Plant growth, gas exchange, pigment content and element accumulation in leaves.
| T | K | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth and Physiological Characteristics | |||
| Leaf thickness (mm) | 0.08 ± 0.01 c | 0.31 ± 0.01 a | 0.20 ± 0.03 b |
| TRW5 (mm) | 3.10 ± 0.b | 3.77 ± 0.a | 2.21 ± 0.c |
| TRWT (mm) | 3.06 ± 0.b | 3.83 ± 0.a | 2.35 ± 0.c |
| Chlorophyll content (r.u.) | 35.6 ± 0.9 a | 31.04 ± 1.25 b | 28.22 ± 0.71 c |
| Flavonol content (r.u.) | 1.38 ± 0.04 c | 1.76 ± 0.02 a | 1.67 ± 0.03 b |
| Anthocyanin content (r.u.) | 0.110 ± 0.002 b | 0.137 ± 0.005 a | 0.141 ± 0.003 a |
| A (μmol CO2 m−2 s−1) | 13.8 ± 0.4 a | 11.0 ± 0.5 b | 9.5 ± 0.3 c |
| Ci (μmol CO2 mol−1) | 244 ± 5 b | 257 ± 3 b | 280 ± 5 a |
| E (mmol H2O m−2 s−1) | 2.98 ± 0.15 a | 2.20 ± 0.07 b | 1.81 ± 0.05 c |
| gs (μmol H2O m−2 s−1) | 205 ± 13 a | 208 ± 13 a | 202 ± 7 a |
| Element Accumulation in Leaves (μg g−1 DW) | |||
| Ca | 10,200 ± 560 a | 7520 ± 610 b | 11,580 ± 1050 a |
| Cd | BDL | BDL | 1.43 ± 0.19 a |
| Cu | 5.4 ± 0.4 a | 3.0 ± 0.4 b | 2.0 ± 0.3 b |
| Fe | 86 ± 5 a | 82 ± 6 a | 89 ± 6 a |
| K | 5960 ± 460 a | 4100 ± 420 b | 3720 ± 270 b |
| Mg | 2200 ± 110 c | 2910 ± 180 b | 3980 ± 180 a |
| Mn | 290 ± 90 b | 3180 ± 130 a | 110 ± 10 b |
| Zn | 195 ± 27 b | 148 ± 8 b | 550 ± 61 a |
The data presented are means ± SE. Means followed by the same letter in a row are not significantly different from each other according to the Tukey HSD test (p ≤ 0.05). Abbreviations: T—reference population from Tychy; K—birch population from post-coal mine spoil heap; P—birch population from post-smelter spoil heap; BDL—below detection limit; TRW5—mean tree-ring from last five years; TRWT—mean tree-ring width throughout the life of the tree; A—photosynthetic rate; ci—intracellular CO2 concentration; E—transpiration rate; gs—stomatal conductance, r.u.—relative units.