Potential of Ricinus Communis L. and Brassica Juncea (L.) Czern. under natural and induced Pb Phytoextraction

Put “metal into the petal” of plants which literally means bioavailability and translocation of the heavy metal to the plants is an important factor in phytoextraction. A green house experiments was conducted to study potential of Ricinus communis and Brassica juncea in metal accumulation at different concentration of Pb and also the effect of the application of two different chelators i.e., EDTA and Citric acid, on the Pb phytoextraction was studied in an artificially contaminated soil. Ricinus communis and Brassica juncea accumulated high concentrations of Pb in its shoots but the biomass, root and shoot length of Brassica juncea was highly affected due to increased Pb accumulation. Ricinus communis showed high tolerance to Pb since the biomass, root and shoot length of the plant was not affected. Chelators had a potential role in enhancing Pb content in both the plants. The results analysed for metal extraction using chelates revealed that EDTA treated pots increased Pb concentration in Ricinus communis and Brassica juncea compared to citric acid treated pots and untreated pots (control). Both the plants showed high phytoextraction levels but the growth of Brassica juncea was impaired at high levels of Pb and can be used in marginally polluted soils.