Abstract
The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different fungal species on the metal uptake from paper sludge by Hemarthria compressa L. Paper sludge (PS) in various concentrations (0, 30% and 60%) were used with four treatments of two fungal species (F0 = Control, F1 = Aspergillus niger, F2 = Trichoderma pseudokoningii, F3 = A. niger + T. pseudokoningii). Paper sludge as rooting medium steadily influenced growth and physio-biochemical attributes of H. compressa in F0. Results revealed discrete variations in growth attributes with different PS concentrations and each fungal treatment. The maximum damages in ionic homeostasis (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) due to PS toxicity were evident in parallel with declined chlorophyll concentration. The highest growth, total chlorophyll and biomass of the plants were observed when PS was treated with combined fungal strains (F3). Translocation factor decreased with F3 that is indicative of changes in Cd, Pb, and Cu movement to shoot from root. The plants with combined fungal treatment also showed greater catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) activity. Ions, such as Ca, Mg, and Na, also increased gradually with combined fungal treatment. The correlation matrix displayed a close association among diverse fungal and PS levels with multiple plant attributes. PCA-Biplot confirmed the outcome of correlational analyses among different characters of H. compressa. The combined fungal mediate the extraction of heavy metals from the paper sludge by H. compressa recommends the high accumulation of heavy metal (HM) and possible reutilization of metal free sludge as a fertilizer, for application in cultivated fields. Furthermore, the effects of fungal species on HM attenuation in PS are linear and can be used in different habitats. Advancement in such research work will also be helpful in understanding the mechanisms and enhancing the ability of other native microbes to remediate metals.
Highlights
Pollution due to heavy metals (HM) is a global issue and levels of contamination vary from place to place
A comparison (p < 0.05) of physico-chemical investigation of different concentrations of paper sludge (PS) used in this study revealed that 60% sludge concentration appeared to be the most toxic in comparison with 30% PS
Phytoremediation efficacy of the plants largely depends upon their ability to accumulate heavy metals and the total biomass produced by them
Summary
Pollution due to heavy metals (HM) is a global issue and levels of contamination vary from place to place. Municipal and agricultural waste water, and sewage into the rivers has been identified as a significant route of HMs into the aquatic resources [4] They adsorb to suspended particles in water, settle down in the riverbed, and are later released into the water column, where they become a potential secondary source of contamination, threatening ecosystems [5,6,7]. The sludge is mainly composed of organic matter, several macro/micronutrients, various essential and non-essential trace metals, a variety of microorganisms and organic micropollutants [12,13] It is rich in organic matter and several nutrients needed for plant growth suggesting its use as a fertilizer in the field [14]. Anaerobic decomposition of the PS may lead to environmental pollution [15]
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