Phytoextraction Efficiency of Lead by Arum (Colocasia esculenta L.) Grown in Hydroponics

Lead (Pb)tolerance and phytoextraction efficiency of arum (Pani Kachu; Colocasia esculenta L.) were investigatedin hydroponics. Plants were grown for 60 days in nutrient solution after additionof Pb at the levels of 0, 50, 200 and 400 μM. The growth of different parts of arumwas unaffected at low level of Pb concentration (50 μM Pb) compared with controltreatment whereas it decreased gradually with the increase of metal concentrationin nutrient solution. Concentration of metal in all parts of arum increased significantlywith the levels of Pb in the growth media (p u0026#183kgu0026#451, at itslow level in solution. This concentration (50 μM Pb) did not cause any growth retardationwhich indicated that arum was a Pb hyperaccumulator plant. On an average, translocationof Pb from roots to shoots was 68% of total Pb which indicated that the major portionof Pb was translocated from roots to shoots. Transfer factor (TF) greater than onefor this metal as found in the present experiment confirmed the hyperaccumulationcharacteristics of arum. Lead uptake in the shoots of arum without growth retardationand TF of Pb in arum indicated that this plant was a suitable candidate for thephytoremediation of soil and water contaminated with Pb.