PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF FOLIAR FERTILIZED MATRICARIA RECUTITA L. GROWN ON INDUSTRIALLY POLLUTED SOIL

Essential oil quality, quantity, and antioxidant capacity of foliar fertilized Matricaria recutita L., grown on industrially polluted with cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) soil were studied. The polluted field is near the waste depository of ferrous metallurgical combine Kremikovci. Content of Cd and Pb in the soil exceeded permissible concentrations 4.6 and 2.0 times, respectively. The presence of high levels of heavy metals in the soil resulted in retained plant growth. In M. recutita grown on industrially polluted soil, a decrease of root and shoot dry biomass and reduction of number of lateral steams was observed. Otherwise, the number and biomass of flowers per plant increased. Antioxidant defense in the foliar fertilized plants grown on industrially polluted soil could due mainly to increased levels of peroxidases with substrates ascorbate, glutathione, guaiacol, and hydrogen peroxide. Enhanced levels of Cd and Pb in soil did not influence essential oil yield and quality of chamomile.