Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals in Hydroponic Solution

This research work investigated the effects of citric acid (CA) on uptake and accumulation of Cd2+ by jute mallow (Corchorus olitorious). For this purpose, 8 week old seedlings were grown in hydroponics under controlled conditions. Addition of 1, 5, 10 and 20 mg/L. Cd2+ significantly decreased the plant growth, biomass and pigment contents (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids) resulting in induced proline accumulation in the shoots. The effects were dose dependent which became most severe at the highest Cd2+ concentration of 20 mg/L. Application of 5mM citric acid (CA) significantly depressed Cd2+ uptake and its accumulation in the roots and shoots. Citric acid(CA) alleviated the Cd2+ toxicity by increasing the plant biomass and photosynthetic pigments. The results also showed that Cd2+ accumulated more in the roots than the shoots. Jute mallow (Corchoru solitorius) had been found to be effective in accumulation of Cd2+ in the range 0 to 20mg/L.The concentration of CA (5mM) did not show any advantages for phytoextraction of cadmium. The results can be useful to the society in monitoring of areas contaminated by heavy metals as a result of mining & industrial activities.