Research article

We concentrated on elucidating the potential of the most widely grown aquatic model plant, Eichhornia crassipes, to remove lead (Pb), one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants. Plant biomass content as well as various morpho-physiological parameters, such as leaf area, relative water content, proline level, and relative growth rates, was determined upon Pb - treatments. Data from atomic absorption spectrophotometry revealed an increase in Pb within root and leaf tissues, and Pb nitrate showed higher concentrations than Pb acetate in the plants. An observed trend toward increased cysteine content may lead to an increase in the bioavailability of Pb. Additionally, significant variations in pigment contents were observed along with an increase in lipid peroxidation. Accumulation and uptake, were both dependent on dose and duration in these potentially Pb absorbent plants. The concentration efficiency noticeably increased as a result of increases in the length as well the dose of treatment. Water hyacinth, via root uptake and accumulation mechanisms that influenced morphological and physiological adaptations, was found to be effective in reducing the concentrations of lead in both the acetate and nitrate forms.