Journal of Environmental Biology

Chromium accumulation in submerged aquatic plants

treated with tannery effluent at Kanpur, India

Author Details

Kiran Gupta

Plant Genetic Unit, Botany Department, Lucknow University, Lucknow - 226 007, India

Sumati Gaumat

Plant Genetic Unit, Botany Department, Lucknow University, Lucknow - 226 007, India

Kumkum Mishra (Corresponding author)

Plant Genetic Unit, Botany Department, Lucknow University, Lucknow - 226 007, India

e-mail: dr_kumkum@rediffmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

07 May 2010

Revised received:

15 November 2010

Re-revised received:

10 December 2010

Accepted:

14 December 2010

Abstract

Aquatic macrophytes have been widely studied because of their capability of absorbing contaminants from water and their subsequent use in biomonitoring. This study presents a comparison of Cr accumulating potential of submerged aquatic plants viz Vallisneria spiralis and Hydrilla verticillata. These plants were treated with various concentrations of treated tannery effluent collected from UASB, Jajmau, Kanpur under repeated exposure in controlled laboratory conditions in order to assess their maximum bioaccumulation potential. The maximum accumulation of 385.6 and 201.6 mg g^-1 dry weight was found in roots of V. spiralis and the whole plants of H. verticillata, respectively at 100% concentration after 9^th day of effluent exposure. The chlorophyll and protein content of both species decreased with increase in effluent concentration and duration. At highest concentration and duration a maximum reduction of 67.4 and 62.66% in total chlorophyll content, 9.97 and 4.66% in carotenoid content and 62.66 and 59.36% in protein content was found in V. spiralis and H. verticillata respectively. Anatomical studies in both V. spiralis and H. verticillata was carried out to assess the effects of metal accumulation within the plants. Changes in the anatomical structures of both plants exhibits the capacity of these species to act as indicator of effluent toxicity. The high accumulation potential of Cr by both plants revealed their capability to remove pollutants from effluent.

Key words

Vallisneria spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, Chromium, Biomonitoring, Bioremediation, Tannery effluent

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