Cadmium Tolerance and Its Phytoremediation by Two Oil Yielding Plants Ricinus Communis (L.) and Brassica Juncea (L.) From The Contaminated Soil

• Published in: International journal of phytoremediation 2012-09, Vol.14 (8), p.772-785
• Main Authors: Bauddh, Kuldeep, Singh, Rana P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioaccumulation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biomass; Bioremediation; Brassica; Cadmium; Cadmium - chemistry; Cadmium - toxicity; concentration index; Contamination; Extraction processes; Flowers & plants; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - drug effects; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; malondialdehyde; Mustard Plant - chemistry; Mustard Plant - drug effects; Mustard Plant - growth & development; Mustard Plant - metabolism; Phytoremediation; Plant Oils - metabolism; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Roots - drug effects; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Shoots - drug effects; Plant Shoots - growth & development; Plants (organisms); Proline; Ricinus - chemistry; Ricinus - drug effects; Ricinus - growth & development; Ricinus - metabolism; Soil (material); Soil - chemistry; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Time Factors; translocation factor, phytoextraction
• ISSN: 1522-6514; 1549-7879
• DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2011.619238

The effect of increasing level of cadmium in soil was investigated on biomass production, antioxidants, Cd bioaccumulation and translocation in Ricinus communis vis-à-vis a commonly studied oil crop Brassica juncea. The plants were exposed to 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 mg Cd/Kg soil for up to 60 days. It was found that R. communis produced higher biomass at all the contamination levels than that of B. juncea. Proline and malondialdehyde in the leaves increased with increase in Cd level in both the species, whereas soluble protein decreased. The bioaccumulation of Cd was higher in B. juncea on the basis of the per unit biomass, total metal accumulation per plant was higher in R. communis. The translocation of Cd from roots to shoot was also higher in B. juncea at all Cd concentrations. R. communis appeared more tolerant and capable to clean Cd contaminated soil for longer period in one sowing than B. juncea and the former can grow in wasteland soil also in which later cannot be cultivated.