Procjena fiziološkog stanja maslačka u ruralnoj sredini

Diffuse agricultural pollutants, such as agricultural residues, fertilisers, pesticides and excessive salt release in the environment have potentially devastating effects on the plants. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) is herbaceous perennial with wide geographic distribution that often grows in extremely polluted habitats. It is considered as good biological indicator of contamination since it can tolerate wide range of environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the physiological state of dandelion in rural environment by measuring iron (III) reducing antioxidant capacity (iRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) that describes antioxidative activity. Total phenolic content (PHE), ascorbic acid content (AA) and total protein concentration (PROT) were determined as well. Dandelion leaves were collected at 30 different agricultural areas near Osijek that had differential exposure to pollution (polluted and non-polluted). Significant increase of antioxidative capacity and PROT concentration in dandelions in polluted areas was accompanied with decrease of PHE and AA content. Our results suggested that dandelions in polluted agricultural areas show inhibition of secondary metabolites production despite good physiological performance due to high antioxidant capacity