V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris is able to survive external Cu levels of
up to 23 mmol L1 (1500 mg Cu L1). This may be partially
achieved by the capacity of the roots to retain large quantities of
Cu, effectively preventing their translocation to photosynthetic tissues.
Despite the fact that Cu concentrations above 20 mg Cu kg1
DW in leaf tissue are considered excessive or toxic (Kabata-Pendias
and Pendias, 2001), this species survived with leaf Cu concentrations
as high as 80 mg kg1 DW and growth parameters were unaffected
by leaf tissue concentrations of 35 mg Cu kg1 DW.