Accumulation, distribution and toxicological effects induced by chromium on the development of mangrove plant Kandelia candel (L.) Druce

  • Mohammed Mahabubur Rahman Dhaka Imperial College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Yan Chongling School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University
  • Md. Motiur Rahman Slivacom Ltd. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Kazi Shakila Islam The School of Oceanography and Environmental Science, Xiamen University
Keywords: Chromium, plant growth, metal accumulation, metal distribution pattern, toxic effect, mangrove

Abstract

A study was performed for investigating accumulation, distribution and toxicological effects induced by chromium (Cr) on the development of the mangrove seedling Kandelia candel (L.) Druce. Seedlings treated with increasing concentrations of CrCl3 solution (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 mg L-1, respectively) were grown in a basic nutrient solution for three months. The five month old seedlings were harvested for the experiment. This study showed that Cr treatment significantly decreased growth of K. candel in terms of seedling height, leaf number and total biomass. At the highest 3 mg L-1 Cr exposure, there was a 34.47% decrease in final seedling height, 68.95% decrease in leaf number and a 60.65% decrease in total biomass. The present study demonstrates that Cr accumulation ability of K. candel seedlings increased with the increase of treatment strength up to certain level. The concentrations of Cr in root, hypocotyl, stem and leaf ranged from 22.87 to 1.43 mg kg-1, 1.30 to 0.68 mg kg-1, 2.42 to 0.91 mg kg-1, and 1.74 to 0.74 mg kg-1, respectively. When comparing Cr concentration in different plant parts with respect to their controls, the results showed that treated plant root bioaccumulated high amounts of Cr. Almost 80% of Cr was accumulated mainly in roots. The distribution pattern of Cr in K. candel was Root > Stem > Leaf > Hypocotyl. Our findings indicated that the high concentration of Cr supply may interfere with several metabolic processes of seedlings, causing toxicity to plants as exhibited by chlorosis, necrosis, and finally, plant death.

Author Biography

Mohammed Mahabubur Rahman, Dhaka Imperial College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Department of Botany Lecturer
Published
23/04/2009
Section
Papers