Heavy Metal Absorption Efficiency Of Two Species Of Mosses (Physcomitrellapatens And Funariahygrometrica) Studiedinmercury Treated Culture Under Laboratory Condition

As an important component of ecosystems, mosses have a strong influence on the cycling of water, energy and nutrient. Given their sensitivity to environmental change, mosses can be used as bioindicators of water quality, air pollution, metal accumulation and climate change. In the present study, the growth, differentiation and heavy metal (Hg) absorption of two species of mosses like Physcomitrella patens and Funariahygrometrica were studied in solid cultures under laboratory conditions. It was observed that, the number of gametophores developed from single inoculated gametophores after 45 days of growth of F. hygrometrica was 11 +/- 2.0 in control whereas it has decreased at higher concentrations, 4 +/- 1.5 in 1ppm of mercury treatment. P. patens also shows asimilar trend. The heavy metal uptake of both the species of mosses was studied. It was observed thatHg content in pseudo leaves ofP. patens ranged from 0.98ppm to 2.76 ppm at different Hg treatment (0.1-1ppm), whereas in F. hygrometrica it ranged from 0.78ppm to 2.43ppm under the same treatment condition. Comparing between the Hg content in pseudo-leaves and rhizoids of P. patensandF. hygrometrica, it was observed that the Hg content was elevatedabout 60-64% in rhizoids than that of pseudo-leaves at 0.1% treatment level, whereas it was increased almost up to 50% in other treatment level.