Prospects using plants of genus Lemna in biomonitoring and phytoremediation of hydro-ecosystems

Abstract

Duckweeds Lemna minor L., L. gibba L., L. trisulca L., Wolffia arrhiza (L.) Horkel ex Wimmer, Spirodela polyrrhjza (L.) Schleid are monocotyledonous aquatic plants having ability to rapid vegetative reproduction to form genetically uniform clones. They have a good perspective as herbs and feed crops. The plants of Lemna genus is a model plant suitable for investigation into medical and ecological biotechnology, plant physiology, biochemistry and ecotoxicology. Depending on the type of the experiment, duckweed is cultivated on different nutrient media under various chamber conditions. Duckweeds play an important role in water formation by taking and processing various matters and intensifying water purification from heavy metals and oily waste due to the presence of oil-oxidation bacteria. Almost all duckweeds are very convenient for ecobiotechnological research because of their firmness. The date from the literature sources were analysed according to peculiarities of water plants of the Lemna genus and their ability to lower maintenance of chemical compounds and ingredients in water solutions with the purpose of intensification of cleaning process of wastewaters is represented. Hence duckweeds can be used in biomonitoring and remediation as model system for the study of water pollutants and an alternative choice for the study of some toxic chemicals present in the pollutants. The necessity of biomonitoring and phytoremediation research of waters from the surface sources of water supply using duckweeds is justified.