PHYTOREMEDIATION OF SELECTED HEAVY METALS USING BRYOPHYLLUM DAIGREMONTIANUM (RAYM-HAMET & H. PERRIER)

Heavy metals are hazardous to plants as well as to humans. The purpose of the current work was to explore the phytoextraction potential of B. daigremontianum (Raym.-Hamet & H. Perrier) A. Berger for the uptake of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) through roots, leaves and stem. B. daigremontianum grown in the contaminated soil showed relatively higher values for the uptake of Cd, Ni and Zn as compared to those grown in control soil. However, the accumulation rate of heavy metals was arranged in the order: Zn, Ni and Cd in root > leaf > stem. There was a significant difference at p < 0.05 from their relevant control. Bioconcentration factors (BCF root) values clearly show the differences of heavy metals in control and contaminated plants which were 1.0106, 0.8306 and 0.6652, indicating the uptake in the order Zn > Ni > Cd. B. daigremontianum used for the Phytostabilization of Zn because the BCF value of the plant for this metal is greater than one. Introduction Phytoremediation mean to remove or restoring balance because plant-based remediation of pollutants from soil (Ali et al. 2013). In this technology, green plants are used for the cleaning of contaminated soil and water. Botano-remediation, vegetative remediation, green remediation and agro-remediation also termed for phytoremediation (Agbontalor 2007). In the past few years, the advanced technology of phytoremediation that can potentially address the problems of contaminated agricultural land or more intensely polluted areas are affected by urban or industrial activities. However, phytoremediation processes rely on the ability of plants to take up and metabolize pollutants to high or less toxic substances. In addition, the uptake, accumulation and degradation of contaminants vary among plants. Meanwhile, phytoremediation is required by plants for growth, the ability to tolerate and accumulate contaminants, increase rooting zone and potential to transpire groundwater. Furthermore, the plants used in phytoremediation should not only accumulate, degrade or volatilize the contaminants but should also grow quickly in a wild range of different conditions (Pivertz and Bruce 2001). Generally, for the purpose of decontamination of metals, various physical and chemical methods are employed which have certain limitation like demanding labour, high cost, disturbance of near-natural microflora and permanent changes in soil properties. In addition, substitute green solution for removal of heavy metals pollution is phytoremediation which is an advanced technique (Ali et al. 2013). Furthermore, in less developed countries remediation technology, is *Author for correspondence: <umar02mkd@gmail.com>. Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China. Department of Weed Science, The University of Agriculture Peshawar. School of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, China. Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China. University of Malakand Chakdara, Dir(L) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.