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Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals by Brassica juncea in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environment

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The Plant Family Brassicaceae

Part of the book series: Environmental Pollution ((EPOL,volume 21))

Abstract

Plant-based environmental remediation has been widely pursued by academic and industrial scientists as a favorable low-cost clean-up technology. Phytoremediation is being developed as an alternative technology for removing or, more accurately, reducing the concentration of toxic pollutants to clean up the environment. In the present research, potential of green plants have been screened for phytoremediation of heavy metals both from aquatic and terrestrial environment. Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) has been found as a potential candidate for phytoremediation of heavy metals. B. juncea has been used for remediation of Cd, Pb and Zn at varying concentrations, viz., 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 ppm. The depletion of heavy metals was observed at the intervals of 0, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days and metal uptake was studied in the roots/shoots of the plants. The percentage removal of Cd, Pb and Zn was found 88.9%, 80% and 89.8%, respectively at the higher exposure concentration (50 ppm). Similarly B. juncea has also been used for phytoremediation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) at varying concentrations, viz., 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg from mycorrhizal soil in pot culture technique and uptake was studied in the roots/shoots; after harvesting the plants. The uptake of metals in roots was found 25,000 μg g−1 – Cd, 32,750 μg g−1 -Pb and 30,550 μg g−1 –Zn; whereas uptake in shoots was found 4,596 μg g−1 Cd, 3,469 μg g−1 Pb and 15,878 μg g−1 Zn at higher exposure concentration (50 ppm). The research study has proved effective remediation of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) by B. juncea in water-soil environment.

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Abbreviations

Cd:

Cadmium

cm:

Centimeter

kg:

Kilogram

μg:

Micro gram

μl:

Micro liter

mg:

Milli gram

ml:

Milli liter

MS:

Mycorrhizal soil

Pb:

Lead

ppm:

Parts per million

VAM:

Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza

Zn:

Zinc

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Santacruz (E), Mumbai, 400 098, India

    Anamika Singh & M. H. Fulekar

Authors
  1. Anamika Singh
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  2. M. H. Fulekar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. H. Fulekar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environmental+Marine Studies, (CESAM) &, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

    Naser A. Anjum

  2. (CESAM) &, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Centre for Environmental+Marine Studies, Campus Universitário, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

    Iqbal Ahmad

  3. Centre for Environmental+Marine Studies, (CESAM) &, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

    M. Eduarda Pereira

  4. Centre for Environmental+Marine Studies, (CESAM) &, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal

    Armando C. Duarte

  5. Deptartment of Botany, Faculty of Science, Hamdard University, street, New Delhi, 110062, India

    Shahid Umar

  6. Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, street, Aligarh, 202002, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Nafees A. Khan

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Singh, A., Fulekar, M.H. (2012). Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals by Brassica juncea in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environment. In: Anjum, N., Ahmad, I., Pereira, M., Duarte, A., Umar, S., Khan, N. (eds) The Plant Family Brassicaceae. Environmental Pollution, vol 21. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3913-0_6

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