ABSORPTION OF Cu AND Cd IN WATER BY FOUR AQUATIC PLANTS AND THE EFFECTS OF Cu AND Cd ON PLANT PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICATORS

The paper aimed to examine the absorption of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) in water by four aquatic plants, namely, Ceratophyllum demersum L., Myriophyllum verticillatum L., Oenanthe javanica (Bl.) DC. and Hydrocotyle vulgaris, together with the effects of Cu, Cd, and Cu combined with Cd, on the plant physiological indicators. In addition, Cu and Cd contents in different plant parts (including roots, stems and leaves), together with the levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, malondialdehyde and soluble protein in all experimental plants, were determined. Our findings showed that Cu and Cd were mainly concentrated in the roots of Myriophyllum verticillatum L., Oenanthe javanica (Bl.) DC. and Hydrocotyle vulgaris. Besides, both TFRoot-stem and TFRoot-leaf were <1 for Myriophyllum verticillatum L., Oenanthe javanica (Bl.) DC. and Hydrocotyle vulgaris. In addition, the Cu-Cd mixed solution might promote the absorption of Cd by the roots of Myriophyllum verticillatum L., Oenanthe javanica (Bl.) DC. and Hydrocotyle vulgaris. Nonetheless, it had higher toxicity than that of the separate solution of Cu or Cd to Ceratophyllum demersum L., Myriophyllum verticillatum L. and Hydrocotyle vulgaris.