Impacts of heavy metal and nutrient accumulation on the vegetative, anatomical and reproductive characteristics and phytoremediation efficiency of Azolla Filiculoides L .
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: : Aquatic ecosystems are susceptible to contamination from various sources, including agricultural wastewater, urban sewage and industrial activities. This study investigated the phytoremediation potential of the aquatic fern Azolla filiculoides L. in removing heavy metals and nutrients from the Anzali lagoon, in the Caspian Sea. Water and plant samples were collected from diverse areas within the lagoon. The bioconcentration factor for potassium and lead surpassed one, indicating significant root absorption. Conversely, for manganese and zinc, the values were below one, suggesting restricted absorption by the roots. However, the biotranslocation factor exceeded one for all elements, with phosphorus and zinc exhibiting the highest values. This indicates that the plants effectively transferred heavy metals and nutrients to the shoots. A. filiculoides growing in contaminated areas had smaller epidermal cell dimensions, a thicker stem cortex, and thicker tracheid and sieve cells in the roots compared to those in uncontaminated areas. In contaminated areas, mature sporangium capsules opened rapidly, accelerating the maturation and germination of spores, thereby enhancing the survival capacity of A. filiculoides . The study demonstrates Azolla filiculoides 's effectiveness as a phytoremediator in the Anzali lagoon, highlighting its potential for sustainable and eco-friendly bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated areas through ongoing research and technological progress.
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4403790307