Polymorphism of response to cobalt excess in individual Vicia faba plants

A high and unique expression of individual plant polymorphism for metal stress has been observed after exposure of seeds of Vicia faba to cobalt excess. The reproducibility of the phenomenon, the stability of variations in de-etiolation assay, the coincidence of differences in Co uptake and plant injury extent, a simultaneous increase of the uptake of several elements depending on plant injury extent allow to use this phenomenon for studying the evolution of the initial stages of tolerance and hyperaccumulation, multiple metal uptake and the ‘break-through’ effect. The high individual DNA polymorphism revealed by RAPD analysis and different response of individual plants to Co excess are separate, unrelated phenomena.