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Phytoremediation of Cadmium Contaminated Soil Using Brassica juncea: Influence on PSII Activity, Leaf Gaseous Exchange, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Redox and Elemental Status

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology volume 105, pages 411–421 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Phytoremediation is an ecologically and economically feasible technique to remove heavy metal from soil. The aim of the study was to examine cadmium (Cd) toxicity and phytoremediation aptitude of Brassica juncea. In the present study, plants survived when exposed to different levels of Cd (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg soil) and accumulated a large amount of Cd in its root and shoot. Translocation factor (TF) of Cd from root to shoot was > 1 at both 45 and 60‐day stage of growth suggesting that B. juncea is a hyperaccumulator and strong candidate for phytoextraction of Cd. Alongside, Cd impaired photolysis of water, PSII activity, nutrient uptake, photosynthesis and sugar accumulation in the plant. Cd-generated oxidative stress restricts the growth of B. juncea. The toxic effect of Cd was more pronounced at 45‐day stage of growth signifying the drifting of plant towards acquirement of exclusion strategy.

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Acknowledgements

Authors gratefully acknowledge the Chairman, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, India for providing the required facilities to carry out this experimental work and UGC under Grant No. 15PHDBTM003 for providing funds in the form of non‐net fellowship.

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  1. Plant Physiology Section, Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India

    Husna Siddiqui, Khan Bilal Mukhtar Ahmed, Fareen Sami & Shamsul Hayat

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  1. Husna Siddiqui
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Correspondence to Shamsul Hayat.

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Siddiqui, H., Ahmed, K.B.M., Sami, F. et al. Phytoremediation of Cadmium Contaminated Soil Using Brassica juncea: Influence on PSII Activity, Leaf Gaseous Exchange, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Redox and Elemental Status. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 105, 411–421 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-020-02929-3

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Keywords

  • Cell viability
  • Oxidative stress
  • Photochemistry
  • Photosynthesis
  • SEM–EDX