The concentration of heavy metals in the environment is increasing at an alarming rate due to the high rate of industrialisation and intensive agricultural practices over the past few decades. Since most of the heavy metals are persistent and toxic in nature, they significantly reduce agricultural productivity and pose severe threat to human beings through food chain contamination. In recent years, phytoremediation has gained considerable attention as a solar driven green technology for the removal of heavy metals. In the present study we examined the Cadmium (Cd) removal potential of Macaranga peltata -one of the woody species emerging in early successions -found very common in Kerala. The experiment was conducted in batch mode for a period of 20 days in three different concentrations of Cd (0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 mg/L) in two different mediums (distilled water and 10% Hoagland nutrient solution). The percentage removals of Cd by M. peltata from three treatments in distilled water were 98, 93 and 89% respectively, where as in the case of Hoagland nutrient medium it was 90, 89 and 82% respectively. The results show higher removal efficiency in distilled water as compared to Hoagland nutrient medium. The analysis of the plants revealed that most of the Cd was accumulated in the roots followed by stem and leaf. Cd accumulation also affected the chlorophyll content of the plant at higher concentrations. The study shows that M. peltata is a promising plant for the phytoremediation of Cd. Since most of the earlier studies on phytoremediation were carried out using smaller plants with less biomass production and growth rate, the use of M. peltata -one of the fastest growing tree species in the present study receives special attention.
This work aimed to determine the limnological status of the Bharathapuzha river basin using the physicochemical and biological parameters (phytoplankton) throughout the period from November 2018 to October 2019. A total of 168 species were identified, belonging to five different classes, Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Dinophyceae, and Cyanophyceae. The most dominant classes obtained from the study area are Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Euglenophyceae. The present study revealed that species distribution depends upon the physico-chemical parameters and attained their maximum density during pre-monsoon, whereas minimum populations were observed during monsoon. The diversity profile was higher during pre-monsoon and lower in monsoon season. Canonical Correspondence Analysis revealed that temperature, nitrate, silicate, and DO have a more significant influence on phytoplankton abundance.
A new species of Ophioglossum with small size, bluish green colour is described and illustrated here. It collected from Mangadu, Thrissur District, Kerala. This small Ophioglossum named Ophioglossum raphaelianum, become distinct from all other reported species in having subglobose rhizome, orbicular, obtuse, bluish green and appressed tropophyll and sheathing trophophore. The spore lumina shallow, muri reticulate, virugose, heterobrochate and rhizome with large amount of VAM association.
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