Phytoaccumulation of Lead by Selected Wetland Plant Species

Several anthropogenic activities lead to the production of substantial amounts of aqueous effluents that contain various toxic trace and heavy metals and which pose potential threats to the wild habitat of wetlands. As a part of the remediation of heavy metals, it is necessary to identify some aquatic hyperaccumulator plants. To this end, a greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the phytotoxicity resulting from lead (Pb) and its accumulation in selected plant species. Lead was added from low to very high levels in a swell-shrink clayey soil (Typic Haplustert). Seven levels of Pb (0, 50, 100 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg kg-1 soil) were applied. Typha angustifolia L. of Typhaceae and Behaya plant (Ipomoea carnea L.) of the Convolvulaceae family were taken as test plants. Lead was added at high and low concentrations to determine whether an increase in concentration would Pb to an increased toxicity to the plants. Recorded weight of the Typha crop was reduced (6%) at 600 mg Pb kg-1 soil, and at greater doses of Pb, the dry-matter yield was inhibited considerably. In the case of Ipomoea, no growth retardation from Pb was observed. Most Pb accumulated in roots and then was transported to shoots. The Typha angustifolia L. and Ipomoea carnea L. plants show promise for the removal of Pb from contaminated wastewater because they can accumulate high concentrations of Pb in roots (1200 and 1500 mg Pb kg-1 respectively) and shoots (275 and 425 mg Pb kg-1 respectively). Lead uptake by both the plants increased with the increasing doses of Pb (50 to 800 mg kg-1 soil). Physiological parameters such as photosynthesis, respiration, chlorophyll content, and different enzyme activities including nitrate reductase (NR), peroxidase (POD), and succinate dehydrogenase (SD) were also studied for the evaluation of these plant species. In Typha plants, at greater doses of Pb, the rate of photosynthesis and chlorophyll content decreased whereas POD and SD activities increased to combat oxidative stress.