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Comparative Study of Chromium Phytoremediation by Two Aquatic Macrophytes

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Abstract

Chromium (Cr) occurs in several oxidation states from trivalent to hexavalent. However, hexavalent forms are more toxic and mainly produced by anthropogenic activities. A hydroponic experiment was conducted to analyse the comparative remediation of Cr by Marsilea minuta and Pistia stratiotes. Plants were exposed to four concentrations of Cr (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mM) for 3 days. The highest accumulation of Cr was seen at the 1.5 mM concentration after 3 days in Marsilea (11.96 mg/g) and Pistia (18.78 mg/g). Dry weights decreased and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased in response to increasing Cr concentrations. Results indicate that both macrophytes are suitable candidates for Cr phytoremediation. Antioxidant-enzyme activity as a function of metal tolerance is imperative for a coherent understanding of plant physiology under metal stress.

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Acknowledgements

The Head of the Botany Department, University of Lucknow is acknowledged for providing central lab facility to execute the experiments and to analyse samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, U. P., 226007, India

    Komal Sharma, Priya Saxena & Alka Kumari

  2. Environmental Monitoring Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, U. P., 226001, India

    Priya Saxena

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  1. Komal Sharma
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KS: experimental setup, data cumulation and analysis, and manuscript composition. PS: analytical interpretation, statistical analysis on data. AK: conceptualization of experimental design, final editing, overall guidance and submission of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Alka Kumari.

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Sharma, K., Saxena, P. & Kumari, A. Comparative Study of Chromium Phytoremediation by Two Aquatic Macrophytes. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 111, 16 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03773-x

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