Paper Title
The Effect of Some Heavy Metals Accumulation on Anatomical and Physiological Characteristic of the Submerged Macrophyte Vallisneria Plant
Abstract
The degree of contamination by heavy metals (Hg and Pb) on Vallisneria plants has been studied. Plant was
exposed to metal treatments of Hg and Pb for three weeks. Leaves were harvested for studying anatomy and analyzing metal
accumulation. Accumulation of Hg and Pb in all parts of the plant increased significantly with an increase in applied metal
concentration. Results showed the maximum heavy metal concentrations, in the root and minimum heavy metal
concentrations in the leaves. Total chlorophyll content increasing concentrations of the heavy metal. In Hg was 5.50%, while
in the Pb found the lower effect on total protein research to 4.22 % at 15 mg/l concentration.
Anatomical analyses of Vallisneria leaves revealed several changes in the leaves of plants submitted to contaminated
treatments. The leaves of plants exposed to contamination presented modified anatomical characteristics. Exposure to heavy
metals leads to a reduction in the size of blade thickness, number of conducting elements, reduced cell size of the epidermis
and aerenchyma tissue. Leaves undergo changes in size, shape and arrangement of leaf blade and cortical parenchyma cells as
well as reduced in vascular bundles.
Keywords- Aquatic plants, Vallisneria, heavy metal, chlorophyll, anatomy.