Advances in Life Sciences
Year : 2016, Volume : 5, Issue : 9
First page : ( 3562) Last page : ( 3565)
Print ISSN : 2278-3849. Online ISSN : 2278-4705.

Nelumbo nucifera as an Ideal Aquatic Macrophyte for Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals in Contaminated Wetland

Meera A.V.*, Thampatti Manorama K.C.

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Kerala Agricultural University

*email: meeravinod14@gmail.com

Online published on 23 December, 2016.

Abstract

Aquatic macrophytes have the ability to sequester large quantity of metals from the ecosystem and store them in roots and aerial parts. Phytotechnology utilizing green plants is gaining much importance in cleaning up contaminated environment and is in the juvenile stage of its development. In the present study, aquatic plants that were present in abundance and present a panoramic view tolakewater ecosystem viz., Nelumbo nucifera, Nymphoides indica and Nymphaea odorata were collected from three different regions of the Vellayani lake of Kerala. These plants were found to accumulate more concentration of metals in the roots. Nelumbo nucifera and Nymphaea odorata found to accumulate greater proportion of Al and Pb from the contaminated ecosystem. The ability of Nelumbo nucifera as a hyperaccumulator of Pb wasfurther emphasized from the bioconcentration factor and translocation factor, which were obtained values exceeding one. This phytoextraction potential of the aquatic macrophyte could be utilized in reducing the metal pollution hazards of water ecosystem as well as in decontaminating the fresh water lake which provides the way for sustainable ecological balance.

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Keywords

Aquatic macrophytes, hyper accumulator, lead, bioconcentration factor, translocation index.

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