BIOSORPTION OF Hg: II. REPAIRING OF EPIDERMAL LAYER OF LEAVES THROUGH NUTRIENTS OF SEAWEEDS IN HG DISTORTED SEEDLINGS OF CICER ARIETINUM

Abstract

Seaweeds are the fascinating groups of marine plants gorging enormous important micro and macro nutrients. Due to their ability to concentrate minerals and trace elements from the sea, render them a potent source of nutrients for crop farming. This article discusses the credible of the green seaweed Codium iyengrii to concentrate non-essential trace element mercury (Hg). The plants were cultivated in randomized block design, exposed to varying concentrations of Hg in the soil separately and simultaneously with seaweeds. It was found that Hg damages the upper epidermal layer of leaves trait. Application of dry seaweeds powder in the Hg contaminated soil showed a repairing condition of epidermal layer of leaves. The role of epidermal layer on leaf surface is important because it protect internal tissues of leaves, involves in exchange of gases and transpiration through stomata. A direct relation between stomatal density and water contents due to the accumulation of Hg in epidermal layer was accountable for photosynthetic destruction. While repairing of leaves with substantial enrichment in % germination, relative water contents (RWC), plant growth with respect to length, biomass, and in opening and closing of stomata in seaweed amended Hg contaminated plants. Scan electron microscopy (SEM) was used to verify the results of Phase contrast microscopy.