Phytoextraction can provide an effective in situ technique for removing heavy metals from polluted soils. The experiment
reported in this paper was undertaken to study the basic potential of phytoextraction of Brassica napus (canola) and Raphanus
sativus (radish) grown on a multi-metal contaminated soil in the framework of a pot-experiment. Chlorophyll contents and gas
exchanges were measured during the experiment; the heavy metal phytoextraction efficiency of canola and radish were also
determined and the phytoextraction coefficient for each metal calculated. Data indicated that both species are moderately tolerant to
heavy metals and that radish is more so than canola. These species showed relatively low phytoremediation potential of
multicontaminated soils. They could possibly be used with success in marginally polluted soils where their growth would not be
impaired and the extraction of heavy metals could be maintained at satisfying levels.
