Influence of pH on lead uptake, chlorophyll and nitrogen content of Nasturtium officinale R. Br. and Mentha aquatica L

Abstract

In the present study, effects of pH (5.0, 7.0 and 9.0) and lead (1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 microg mL(-1)) were investigated on uptake of lead, content of chlorophyll and nitrogen in Nasturtium officinale and Mentha aquatica. Total chlorophyll and nitrogen contents were adversely affected from Pb2+ concentrations dose dependently at each pH. The macrophytes were adversely affected by pH 5.0 or more than 9.0. After 12-days Pb2+ treatment, results showed that lead accumulation of macrophyte tissues was variable. According to the parts of the macrophytes, Pb2+ amounts were generally found at all tested pH levels and the metal concentrations for M. aquatica in the following order: root > stem > leaf and for N. officinale root > leaf > stem. Pb2+ concentrations in plant tissues (root, stem, leaf) in relation to pH were generally found for both macrophytes in following order: 7.0 > 9.0 > 5.0. Despite of the fact that high Pb2+ accumulation was observed in root tissues of the macrophytes, low metal accumulation was measured in the above-ground parts indicating low root-leaf translocation. The study indicated that uptake rate of Pb2+ and its toxicity on Chlorophyll and nitrogen contents in the macrophytes were dependent upon pH value of solutions.