1 Dept. of Botany, Unity Women’s College, Manjeri. Malppuram. Kerala-676122, India 2 Division of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Dept.of Botany, Calicut University, Kerala-673635, India Phone: + 9895501751
E-mail: hussainkoorimannil@gmail.com
Received August 13, 2011
Bioaccumulation of Mercury and Cadmium in Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, cultivated in Hoagland medium artificially contaminated with micro quantities of HgCl2 and CdCl2 is investigated. Bioaccumulation potential of B. monnieri
is more towards Cd than Hg. Absorption and translocation of Hg and Cd
are proportional to the availability of the metal in the growth media
and period of growth. Effect of acidic pH showed enhanced accumulation
while basic pH resulted in significant reduction in the accumulation of
Hg and exorbitant reduction of Cd. As a result of combined treatment of
HgCl2 and CdCl2, accumulation was very low in both acidic and basic pH. In addition to pH, antagonistic effect of Ca2+
present in lime water which was added to raise the pH of the growth
medium also controls the accumulation and absorption of Hg and Cd ions.
Bioaccumulation of Hg and Cd in B. monnieri reveals the
phytoremediation potential while the bioaccumulation is hazards to
health since the plant is highly medicinal and one important ingredient
of many Ayurvedic preparations.
