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Abstract
A Phytoremediation experimental set up was established by spiking the soil with varying concentrations of mercury (Hg) (Treatment: T1:10; T2:50; T3:100; T4:500 and T5:1,000 mg Hg/kg soil). Hg removal ability of the Indian mustard plant was determined after 30, 60 and 90 days of exposure. Hg accumulation trend in second and third month of exposure was root > leaf > stem, while for the 1st month it was root > stem > leaf. The highest percentage of Hg accumulation (81%) and glutathione (14 mg/kg) was observed in the plants of T4 and T5 treatment, respectively at 90 days of exposure indicating a high level of Hg stress tolerance. At 90 days of exposure the chlorophyll a content in leaves grown on Hg-free soil (control soil) was 1.8, 2.4, 2.8, 3.6 and 4.4 fold higher than T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 treatment respectively. With increase in exposure duration, translocation factor decreased whereas bioconcentration factor increased signifying Hg is mainly accumulated in the roots. The study suggests that Brassica juncea can withstand under high Hg contamination and can show great potential to phytostabilize Hg when grown under 100 mg/kg of soil Hg without showing any significant detrimental effect on the plant.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to acknowledge Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad (India) for providing the necessary research facilities to conduct this experiment. The first author (D. Raj) is deeply thankful to Ministry of Human Resource Devolopment (MHRD), Government of India for providing scholarship. Author AK also acknowledges the work support by RFBR, Russia and DST, India according to the research project No. 19-516-45006 and supported by Act 211 Government of the Russian Federation, contract No. 02.A03.21.0006.