Evolution of fluoride tolerance in Plantago lanceolata

Fluoride tolerance evolution was investigated by means of simple solution culture experiments. Seeds of Plantago lanceolata were collected at different distances from a fluoride manufacturing works and germinated in Petri dishes. A previous study had demonstrated an exponential type decrease in soil fluoride concentrations with distance from the factory. Plants grown from seeds collected near the factory were slower growing than susceptible plants in the absence of fluoride, but faster growing in the presence of fluoride. This is the first study providing evidence of fluoride tolerance in plants. As in studies demonstrating tolerance to other pollutants, tolerance evolution seems to involve a ‘cost’ in terms of a lower productivity of tolerant compared with non-tolerant plants.