1 Poll Res. 29 (1) :51-56 (2010) Copyright © Enviromedia COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNANTHERA PHILOXEROIDES AND HYGROPHILA SCHULLI IN LEAD PHYTOEXTRACTION FROM SOIL N. SHABANI 1 , D.M. MAHAJAN 2 , V.R. GUNALE 3 AND M.H. SAYADI 4 1 Department of Environmental Science, University of Pune, Pune, 411007, M.S., India 2 Department of Botany, Waghire College, Saswad, Dist. Pune, University of Pune, Pune 411 007, M.S., India 3 Department of Botany, University of Pune, Pune 411 007, M.S., India 4 Biotechnology Resource Centre, G/1, Adinath, Shaikh Misery Road, Wadala(e), Mumbai 400 037, India ABSTRACT The present study of phytoextraction of Pb from soil by macrophytes was performed. Two emergent macrophytes Alternanthera philoxeroides and Hygrophila schulli were used to remove Pb during 2 months experiment. Dry biomass of plant and concentration of Pb were measured from different plants parts. Dry biomass of plants was decreased with increase of Pb concentration in soil in which Alternanthera philoxeroides was more affected. Root accumulated higher metal concentrations for the macrophytes than shoots thus Transfer Factor (root: stem and leaves) clearly revealed that low transportation of Pb from root to stem and leaves however in low concentration of Pb in soil Alternanthera philoxeroides showed more transfer rate. The results indicate that Hygrophila schulli showed much greater tolerance and extraction of metal though the uptake was low. The results showed that Hygrophila schulli can be more efficient for Pb phytoextraction but could not be useful in soil treatments for removal of Pb. KEY WORDS : Emergent macrophytes, Phytoremediation, Transfer Factor. INTRODUCTION Soil, water and air pollution by toxic heavy metals is a major environmental concern worldwide. Lead is released into the environment from smelting, mining, agriculture, painting and coating, plumbing, petrochemical and batteries industries, etc. threating environmental and human health (Sayadi et al. 2009; Zhan and Zhao 2003, etc.). Lead is number two on the top 20 list of the most poisoning heavy metals targeting organs like, bone, brain, blood, kidneys, reproductive and cardiovascular systems and thyroid gland (Homady et al. 2002). The use of macrophytes to clean up soil contaminated with heavy metals could provide an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and sustainable technology for phytoextraction. The introduction of novel traits into plants that produce high levels of biomass using a transgenic approach is a promising strategy for the development of effective phytoremediation technologies (Kramer and Chardonnens, 2001). The long term aim of the phytoextraction method is the use of transgenic plants with improved extraction properties as a novel tool to remove metal pollutants from contaminated soils. The main challenge to valuable phytoremedi- ation of Pb is it’s very low solubility, although many plants species can hyperaccumulate soluble Pb in soil, it has been reported that Sesbania drummondii, a leguminous shrub, and several Brassica species can accumulate significant amounts of Pb in their roots (Sahi et al. 2002; Wong et al. 2001). Kumar et al. (1995) revealed that Brassica juncea showed reduced growth at high Pb concentration level in the soil but Pb can accumulate at low concentration in soil however significant shoot accumulation is not observed until Pb reaches saturation levels in the roots and also most of shoot accumulation was found in stems and not leaves, suggesting that Pb is relatively insoluble as well as microanalysis spectra data through S. drummondii root sections show a decreasing gradient of Pb contents from the epidermis to the root central Corresponding author - Email : n.shabanif@gmail.com