Journal of Environmental Biology

Toxicity and bioaccumulation of cadmium and lead in Salvinia cucullata

 

Siriwan Phetsombat¹, Maleeya Kruatrachue², Prayad Pokethitiyook¹ and Suchart Upatham³

¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok? 10400, Thailand

² Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, and Mahidol University International College,

Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, ³Faculty of Science,

Burapha University, Chonburi 20131, Thailand

 

(Received: 20 June, 2005 ; Accepted: 08 January, 2006)

 

 

Abstract: The toxicity and accumulation of heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in aquatic fern, Salvinia cucullata were studied. Plants were cultured in Hoagland?s medium which was supplemented with 0.5,1,2, and 4 mg/l of Cd and 5, 10, and 40 mg/l of Pb and were separately harvested after 2,4,6, and 8 days. The toxicity symptoms of Cd and Pb to S. cucullata showed chlorosis on leaves. There were significant derceases in the relative growth, biomass productivity and total chlorophyll content when the exposure time and concentration were increased. The accumulation study showed the significant increases of both metals when the exposure time and concentration were increased. The roots of S. cucullata had higher Cd and Pb contents than leaves suggesting that the metals were bound to the root cells and were partially transported to the leaves.

 

Key words: Cadmium, Lead, Toxicity, Accumulation, Salvinia cucullata.

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