Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr. as bioindicator of pollution in the experimental study area Ružomberok

The purpose of this work was to use the species Fallopia japonica for monitoring of environmental burden in the vicinity of Mondi SCP Ružomberok. The species was selected, because it is hyperaccumulator and it creates huge colonies in the field. 11 sampling sites were selected in study area. In addition, one site was selected in a relatively uncontaminated area. With respect to accummulation, underground (rhizomes) and aboveground parts of plants (leaves, shoots, flowers) were compared. The results are compared with the location in the Tatranská Javorina, which is situated in a relatively clean environment. The following elements were determined by X-ray spectrometry: S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sb, Pb. The results were submitted to ordination analysis (CANOCO), to factor analysis, correlation analysis and analysis of variance (STATISTICA). Lead and rubidium are predominantly accumulated in flowers, iron in rhizomes and calcium in leaves.