Effect of Sargassum wightii on the Growth and Biochemical Characteristics of Heavy Metal Treated Vigna radiata (L.) wilczek

Abstract

The effects of lead acetate on the growth and biochemical characteristics of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek. Seedlings were studied with different concentrations of (5mM, 10mM, 15mM, 20mM, 25mM) lead acetate. The heavy metal treatment on green gram has caused a steep decline in its growth, pigment content, other biochemical characteristics and enzyme activities with increase in the concentration of the lead acetate. On the other hand, after bioremediation treatment with various concentration of seaweed (Sargassum wightii 2mg/L, 4mg/L, 6mg/L) on 15mM lead acetate treated plants a considerable increase on the growth and biochemical characteristics were noticed than in plants treated with heavy metal alone. Addition of seaweed has mitigated the toxic effect of the heavy metal to some extent and instigated the growth parameters, pigment content, biochemical characteristics and enzyme activities of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek. Seaweeds exhibited better performance in reducing all the pollutants from the heavy metal than its counterparts.