The genus Brassica is recognized for including species with phytoaccumulation potential and a large amount of research has been carried out in this area under a variety of conditions, from laboratory experiments to field trials, with spiked or naturally contaminated soils, using one- or multi-element contaminated soil, generating various and sometimes contradictory results with limited practical applications. To date, the actual field potential of Brassica species and the feasibility of a complete phytoextraction process have not been fully evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to summarize the results of the experiments that have been performed with a view to analyzing real potentials and limitations. The reduced biomass and low metal mobility in the soil have been addressed by the development of chemically or biologically assisted phytoremediation technologies, the use of soil amendments, and the application of crop management strategies. Certain issues, such as the fate of harvested biomass or the performance of species in multi-metal-contaminated soils, remain to be solved by future research. Potential improvements to current experimental settings include testing species grown to full maturity, using a greater amount of soil in experiments, conducting more trials under real field conditions, developing improved crop management systems, and optimizing solutions for harvested biomass disposal.

Hyperaccumulator plants are able to tolerate extremely high concentrations of metals/metalloids in the soil in which they grow and to accumulate high concentrations in their shoots. To date, a total of 31 hyperaccumulator plant species have been identified in the Balkans, the centre of diversity and speciation in the European flora which is particularly rich in ultramafic areas. A further 8 species have yet to be confirmed through additional studies. Most of the 31 hyperaccumulator taxa (13 taxa or 41.9%) are species of the genus Odontarrhena, all hyperaccumulating Ni, but concentrations of this element above the hyperaccumulation threshold were also found in the genera Bornmuellera and Noccaea (all Brassicaceae), Orobanche (Orobanchaceae), Centaurea (Asteraceae) and Viola (Violaceae). The existence of hyperaccumulators of Tl and Zn is of particular interest because very few species worldwide hyperaccumulate these elements. Multiple metal hyperaccumulation was found in Noccaea kovatsii, as the hyperaccumulation of Zn was found in this species in addition to Ni, the primary accumulated element. Metal hyperaccumulation is discussed in terms of phylogenetic relationships and species distributions, with special attention to their systematics, the detection and recognition of new hyperaccumulating species and the possibilities for their future practical applications in phytotechnologies.

The aim of this study was to investigate the floristic composition and diversity of seven urban habitat types in 24 Serbian cities with different climatic affiliation. In each of the 24 cities, we selected 1 ha plots representing a habitat from one of the following groups: square, boulevard, residential area with compact and with open building pattern, city park, and sites with early and mid-succession vegetation stages. All vascular plant species that occur spontaneously in these plots were observed. Data on the main climatic characteristics were collected for each plot, and data on the life forms were obtained for each species recorded. Diagnostic species were identified for each habitat type analyzed, and alpha, beta and gamma diversity were calculated. A total of 674 taxa were recorded in the studied area. Significant differences were observed in habitats by diagnostic species and by life form representation. The lowest alpha and gamma diversity and the dominance of therophytes were observed in habitat types with intensive anthropogenic impact, whereas the highest number was recorded in mid-successional sites and residential areas with a compact building pattern. The analysis showed that habitat type influences species composition much more than climate.