Milošević, Tomo Milošević, Nebojša Milinković, Mira All rights reserved eng Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Do the Rootstocks can be a Barrier to Contamination Risk of Sour Cherry Trees with Toxic Metals? Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of eight Prunus rootstocks on trace elements (TE) and heavy metals (HMs) concentrations in leaves of grafted ‘Šumadinka’ sour cherry in Čačak region (Serbia). Element amounts in soil and leaves were analyzed using standard procedures (Kjeldahl, colorimetric, flame photometry and atomic absorption methods) and the transfer factor (TF) was calculated to assess soil to plant metal transfer. The results revealed that rootstock significantly influenced TE and HMs accumulation in leaves. The invigorating Adara rootstock induced the highest leaf concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, B, Cd, Ni and Cr whereas Krymsk 6 promoted the highest leaf Zn, Na and Pb levels. MaxMa 14 together with Krymsk 6 and Adara rootstocks induced the highest and similar leaf Zn and B concentrations, respectively. A weak accumulation response for leaf Fe, Cu, Ni and Cr was recorded on Krymsk 6, and for leaf Zn, B, Na and Cd on Myrobalan rootstock. The lowest leaf Fe was found in scion grafted on Colt and Krymsk 6 rootstocks, while Colt alone induced the lowest leaf Mn concentration. Adara showed the lowest leaf Pb amount which was not detected in leaves of trees grafted onto the remaining rootstocks. The TF values were below 1 for all elements, indicating a limited soil-to-leaf transfer of TE and HMs in various rootstocks. In conclusion, the concentrations of all elements were within the permissible limits, demonstrating that sour cherry production in this environment is safe and not in risk of toxic metal contamination. Contamination · Excessive concentrations · Prunus cerasus L. · Toxic metals · Transfer factor · ‘Šumadinka’ cultivar 2026 info:eu-repo/semantics/article application/pdf 422898 bytes https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:9415 doi:10.1007/s42729-026-03252-2