Abstract
Physiological aspects of why vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) can be tolerant to heavy metals and be used as an alternative method for rehabilitation of abandoned metalliferous mine wastelands have been investigated. The results showed that high proportions of lead and zinc (Pb/Zn) tailing greatly inhibited the leaf growth, dry matter accumulation, and photosynthesis of leaves, but stimulated the accumulation of proline and abscisic acid (ABA), and enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), implying that different mechanisms to detoxify active oxygen species (AOS) existed in different parts of plants. Physiological responses to heavy metal treatments differed greatly between roots and shoots. Nitrogen fertilizer application could greatly alleviate the adverse effects of high proportions of Pb/Zn tailing on vetiver grass growth.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1559-1570 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Chemosphere |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2003 |
Scopus Subject Areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- General Chemistry
- Pollution
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
User-Defined Keywords
- Pb/Zn tailing
- Physiological responses
- Rehabilitation of abandoned metalliferous mine wastes
- Vetiver grass
