COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NATURAL PHYTOEXTRACTION AND INDUCED PHYTOEXTRACTION OF LEAD USING MUSTARD PLANT (BRASSICA JUNCEA ARAWALI)

The objective of the present study was to assess the extraction efficiency of two different synthetic chelants [Ethelyne diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and Salicylic acid (SA)] for desorbing Pb from Pb contaminated soil. Pot experiments were conducted in randomized block designing. First group of plants were treated with different Pb concentrations like 0, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/L. Second group of plants were treated with same Pb concentrations along with Chelant EDTA of 2.4 mM and third group of plants were also treated with same Pb concentrations along with Chelant salicylic acid (2.4 mM). EDTA and SA were applied after 6 weeks of growth i.e., at rosette stage. Different physical and biochemical parameters were studied. The concentrations of Pb in plant samples were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. It was found that Pb accumulation in mustard plant was significantly more enhanced by EDTA than that of SA. Chelants were found to improve Pb uptake by plants. In conclusion, chelate-assisted phytoextraction showed better results than continuous phytoextraction. B. juncea arawali is a suitable candidate for chelate-assisted phytoextraction of Pb.