Abstract
Human activities have considerably increased copper (Cu). This study evaluated the potential of copper phytoextraction in competing and resource-conserving plants. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with eight tropical forage grasses, at two levels of Cu in the nutrient solution: 0.3 and 20 µmol L− 1. Variables of plant morphogenesis, leaf area measurements, SPAD index, total length, area, volume and average diameter of roots, specific leaf area, specific root area, root density, root length density, specific root length were evaluated, and the relationship between leaf and stem and roots and shoots. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and test of means. Forage grasses did not maintain their functional groups at the highest copper concentrations. The promising species for phytoremediation of copper contaminated areas were marandu, piatã and giant missioneira grass.