Özet:
The aim of this study is to explain the biological response and rhizofiltration
capacity of Pistia stratiotes, which is an aquatic macrophyte, in alleviating heavy metal
stress. In our study, Pistia species were exposed to Nickel (Ni) at different concentrations
over seven days. The potential of the aquatic macrophytes in accumulating heavy metals in
the water and in removing them from the environment was evaluated by determining the
bio-concentration factors (BCF). Selected biological parameters in the leaves of Pistia
stratiotes, including metal accumulation, photosynthetic pigment amount, lipid peroxidation
activity, and growth rates were measured at the end of the seven-day period. The highest
amount of Ni accumulation in P. stratiotes occurred at a concentration of 20 mg l-1
. The
amount of chlorophyll a (chl a) in P. stratiotes reached a value of 0.087 mg g-1 at the Ni
concentration of 20 mg l-1
. The relative growth rate (RGR) of P. stratiotes showed a negative
correlation with the increases in the concentration levels of the metal. Malondialdehyde
(MDA) levels increased to 8.214 nmol/g at the concentration of 20 mg l-1
, depending on Ni
concentration and time. In our study, the use of P. stratiotes has been determined to be an
appropriate plant as an effective Ni accumulator to be utilized with the purpose of
rhizofiltration.
