Nickel is an essential element for normal physiological functions in plants. At higher doses (>50 mg/kg, as per WHO) it is toxic to plants and humans, which can bring about oxidative stress affecting the physiological functions of plants and is also considered carcinogenic to human beings. To manage nickel pollution in environment, proper chemical or phytoremediation techniques are required. In this regard nickel accumulator plants would offer a cost effective and environmental friendly phytoremediation method. In the present study, the nickel phyto-accumulation potential of Amaranthus viridis from soil was evaluated to check the tolerance level and the impact on selected morphological parameters like total biomass, plant height, root length and number of leaves. Nickel uptake by A. viridis was studied from Ni contaminated soil amended with20, 40, 60, 80 mg/Kg of Ni exposure under controlled conditions. Toxic effects and tolerance of the plant to toxic doses of nickel was evaluated by correlating the uptake per gram of biomass with various parameters of plant like its height, biomass, root length and, number of leaves. Supply dependent maximum nickel uptake of 108 µg/gm and corresponding decrease in growth parameters were recorded up to 60 mg/Kg exposure. This study indicates the uptake of nickel by A. viridis increases with increase in supply up to 60mg/kg and beyond 60 mg/kg, the uptake decreases. The study also shows uptake of nickel per gram of biomass has a significant negative correlation mainly with parameters like plant height (R= -0.71 at 0.05 level of significance) and total biomass (R = -0.83 at 0.05 level of significance) where as other parameters like length of root and number of leavers are not significantly affected (P>0.05) with uptake of nickel per gram of biomass.
A comparative field studies on seven municipal dumpsites namely Agara 1 (12.917°N , 77.639°E), Agara 2 (12.922°N, 77.639°E), HSR depot (12.919°N, 77.644°E) , Koramangala Church (12.934°N, 77.626°E) , Koramanagla BDA (12.931°N, 77.625°E), Garvebhayipalya (12.897°N, 77.638°E) and Sanjay Gandhi hospital (12.891°N, 77.601°E), and its adjoining non-dump sites were conducted to understand their soil characteristic features and the vegetation pattern. Soil characteristics were presented in terms of the physicochemical parameters and the vegetation patterns were presented in terms of the dominance using the ecological parameter Important Value Index (IVI). Soils at the dump sites showed higher mean electrical conductivity and pH values as compared to the non-dump sites. Though the mineral content showed higher mean value in the dump sites (except chloride), there is no significant variation in the higher total soluble solutes between dump and non-dump sites(P>0.05) As per ANNOVA there was highly significant variation in the heavy metal content between dump and non dumpsites (P<0.01).. With respect to vegetation analysis though 50 different species found across locations only 10 species viz Alternatheria sessile, Amaranthus spinose, Caesalpinia pulcherima, Ipomea acumilanata, Ipomea evolvulus, Parthenium hysterophorous Pisum sativum, Ricinis communis, Sida rombifolia and Solanum lycopersicum were found consistent across all locations irrespective of the seasons. Among these, A. sessile, R. communis and A. spinosa were found dominant based on the IVI values across seven locations which further can be studied for their potential for phyto remediating the land pollutants such as heavy metals.
Rapid urbanization in India has necessitated for undertaking remedial measures to minimize the alarming air pollution levels and consequent health effects. Promotion of vegetation that is tolerant to air pollutants is considered as an ecological sustainable strategy for mitigation of ill effects of particulate matters. In this regard the levels of four heavy metals viz. zinc (Zn) , lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr) and its effects on antioxidants levels (Catalase activity), phytochemicals (Protein, Proline, Gallic acid) and lipid peroxidation were studied in six commonly growing plants- O.sanctum, L. aspera, L.camara, V. rosea, B. spectabilis and R. communis from polluted (Zone I) and unpolluted (Zone 2) environments of Bangalore. Mean levels of heavy metals were comparatively higher in plants from polluted environments. Mean levels of Total protein (6.57±1.71 v/s 8.35±1.27 mg/g), gallic acid (15.79 ± 22.51 v/s 22.95 ± 25.66mg/g) and Catalase activity (66.72±17.95 v/s 78.94± 15.24 mU/g) was comparatively decreased in plants from polluted sites compared to non polluted control sites. Mean Proline (3.11±0.46 v/s 2.63±0.66 mg/g) and Malonaldehyde (19.07±13.86 v/s 16.62±13.49 nmol/g) levels, indicators of oxidative stress, was comparatively increased in plants from polluted sites. Positive correlation of lipid peroxidation in leaves was observed with heavy metals copper (r=0.961, P<0.005 in control sites; r=0.881, P<0.05 in polluted sites) and chromium (r=0.792 in control sites; r=0.758 in polluted sites). Zn levels showed statistically significant (P<0.05) positive correlation with gallic acid content in plant leaves (r= 0.871 in control sites: r= 0.937 in polluted sites). Total protein content showed significant negative correlation (P<0.005) with Cu (r=-0.846) and Cr (r=-0.943) in control sites, but non-significant negative correlation in plants from polluted sites. The study revealed that plants responded to stress induced by air pollutants and produced phenolic compounds to tolerate and mitigate the oxidative stress.
Chromium is a harmful heavy metal to the environment due to the toxicity induced by it to plants and other living organisms. High concentration of Cr in soil poses severe toxicological problems ecosystem. Phytoremediation using different plants is an economical and environment-friendly method for removing Cr from soil. The addition of chelating agents augments the phytoextraction using plants.The present study aimed to augment the Cr phytoremediation capacity of Amaranthus virdis, a predominant plant species in the Cr-contaminated open dumpsites of Bangalore. . Phytoextraction of Cr by Amaranthus viridis was studied in the presence of different chelating agents viz. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid (CA), growth promoting hormone- indoleacetic acid (IAA) and NPK fertiliser. A. viridis grown under different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mg/Kg) of Cr were treated with 0.5g EDTA/Kg of soil, 0.5g CA/Kg of soil, 1mg IAA/Kg of soil and NPK (125 mg of nitrogen, 45 mg of phosphorous and 156 mg of potassium per Kg of soil). Results indicated that CA, at 10 mg/kg Cr supply, induced the highest uptake (up to 29.25 µg/plant). Furthermore, the study revealed that CA amendment induced maximum Cr uptake in A. viridis at all levels of Cr supply as compared to other amendments. This was due to the increased solubility of Cr in the presence of citric acid and the amelioration of oxidative stress due to Cr to plants by citric acid. This study inferred that the non-hyperaccumulating plant, A. virdis could be used as a phytoremediator for Cr in the presence of citric acid in the places where it is grown abundantly.
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