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Phytoremediation of heavy metals by Alternanthera bettzickiana: Growth and physiological response

2015; Elsevier BV; Volume: 126; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.12.031

1090-2414

Hafiz Muhammad Tauqeer, Shafaqat Ali, Muhammad Rizwan, Shafaqat Ali, Rashid Saeed, Usman Iftikhar, Rehan Ahmad, Mujahid Farid, Ghulam Hassan Abbasi,

Heavy metals in environment

The present study was aimed to evaluate the morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of Alternanthera Bettzickiana (Regel) G. Nicholson plant subjected to different levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM) stress. A. bettzickiana was able to accumulate Cd and Pb in different plant parts and total uptake of both metals was higher in shoots than roots. Plant growth, biomass and photosynthetic pigments increased with increasing metal concentrations, up to 1.0 mM, in soil and then decreased with higher metal levels. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased under lower metal levels (0.5 and 1.0 mM) while decreased at higher metal levels (2.0 mM). Leaf and root electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents decreased at lower metal levels (≤1.0 mM) while increased at higher levels. The present study clearly signifies the potential of A. bettzickiana plant towards Cd and Pb tolerance and accumulation especially at lower metal levels.