Assessment of phytoremediation ability and accumulation of different concentrations of silver in the harmel plant (Peganum harmala L.)
Subject Areas : Environmental physiology
1 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Harmel growth parameters silver accumulation,
Abstract :
The presence of toxic silver levels in the environment significantly affects the physiological changes in plants, severely impacting their growth capabilities. In cases where silver concentrations are extremely high, this pollution can lead to the destruction of sensitive plant species. Under such conditions, sensitive plants may suffer damage due to the toxic effects of silver and, in some instances, die; however, silver-resistant plants can continue to grow and reproduce despite such contamination. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of high silver concentrations on various characteristics of the harmel plant, including the length of aerial and root organs, the dry weight of these organs, silver accumulation, and the transfer factor. To achieve this, harmel plants were exposed to varying concentrations of silver (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L) for 15 days. The results indicated that increasing silver concentrations led to reduced lengths of both aerial and root organs, as well as a decrease in the dry weight of these organs. However, the level of silver accumulation in both aerial and root organs clearly increased. Furthermore, the transfer factor significantly increased in response to different silver concentrations compared to the control treatment. Consequently, the findings suggest that the harmel plant possesses a high capacity for silver accumulation and tolerance, making it a suitable candidate for silver phytoremediation. These findings are particularly important for developing environmental management methods and reducing pollution caused by heavy metals.
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