Abutilon indicum L.: a prospective weed for phytoremediation

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the uptake and accumulation potential of a weed (Abutilon indicum L.) for phytoremediation of soil contaminated with cadmium. Plants were grown in soil spiked with 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mg/kg Cd, individually. Plants sample (root and shoot) were analyzed for Cd content at 30, 60, and 90 days and accumulation trends were characterized. A steady increase in Cd accumulation with increasing metal concentration and exposure period was observed for all treatments. Accumulation of Cd in roots was found to be 4.3-7.7 times higher than that of shoots. Statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.001) in mean metal content in root and shoot at successive days of study was recorded. Effect of Cd on growth and physiology was also evaluated. At higher Cd levels, root and shoot length and biomass of test plant were reduced significantly. Although, growth was delayed initially, it was comparable to control at the end of the study. Chlorophyll and proline content declined with the increase in Cd concentration at 30 and 60 days after treatment. However, at 90 days, values were more or less comparable to the control values showing the adaptability of test plant in Cd contamination. Considering the accumulation ability, BCF >1 (bioconcentration factor) and TF <1 (translocation factor) established A. indicum as a potential candidate plant for phytoremediation. Hence, phytoremediation employing indigenous weed species like A. indicum can be an ecologically viable option for sustainable and cost-effective management of heavy metal-contaminated soils.

Analysis on bioaccumulation of metals in aquatic environment of Beas River Basin: A case study from Kanjli wetland

“…The bioaccumulation factor for metals varied as Cd: 619.80 ( C. sativa) − 826.72 ( A. aspera ); Cr: 11.29 ( A. arvensis ) − 35.19 ( S. acuta ); Co: 23.30 ( A.arvensis) − 72.60 ( S. acuta ); Cu: 155.25 ( C. sativa) − 469.16 ( A. arvensis ); Fe: 208.93 ( C. sativa) − 2738.54 ( S. acuta ); Mn: 2.73 ( A. aspera ) − 262.13 ( A. arvensis ); Pb 493.99 (A.arvensis) − 591.34 ( A. conyzoids ); and Zn: 8.09 ( A.aspera) − 592.66 ( A. conyzoids ). Various earlier studies indicated that naturally growing plant/weed species act as promising system for phytoremediation of contaminated areas [ Rehman and Iqbal , ; Pongthornpruek et al , ; Subhashini and Swamy , ; Varun et al , ]. Insight to metal bioaccumulation factor of the plant species provides a scope for decontamination, thereby reducing the pollution load of aquatic as well as terrestrial ecosystems.…”

Invasive Weed Asystasia gangetica as a Potential Biomonitor and a Phytoremediator of Potentially Toxic Metals: A Case Study in Peninsular Malaysia

“…The two main mechanisms of the tolerance in the T. africana were its high excretion of the elements through its salt glands and the relatively low translocation of metals from its roots to the other plant parts. Varun et al [ 102 ] reported the weed Abutilon indicum displayed BCF >1 at all concentrations. A. indicum had translocated most of the metals in its root.…”

“…In the literature, many studies documented the use of weeds as phytoremediators of metals [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 102 , 108 , 109 ]. Generally, the translocations of Cu and Zn from roots to stems and leaves of plants from across the sampling sites were low (TF < 1).…”

Transfer of metals from crude oil impacted soils to some native wetland species, the Niger-delta, Nigeria: Implications for phytoremediation potentials

“…The differential pattern of Cr accumulation in all the species could be adduced to the effect of plant species type. The ability of plant species to accumulate a particular metal is selective and it varies (Alloway et al, 1990;Secu et al, 2008;Lacatusu et al, 2009;Varun et al, 2015). The reported low pH and organic matter of the soil (Fatoba et al, 2016) in the study locations may play a role in enhancing phytoavailability of metals in the soil, resulting in high plant uptake as biomass contents of all metals were higher than the soil contents.…”