Cadmium uptake by floating macrophytes

Cd uptake capacity of a group of floating macrophytes (Salvinia herzogii, Pistia stratiotes, Hydromistia stolonifera and Eichhornia crassipes) was determined in outdoors experiments during the lowest temperature period of the year. Although all studied species were highly efficient in the Cd uptake, Pistia stratiotes was selected for further research because of its superior performance and its higher average relative growth rate. Cadmium% removal by Pistia stratiotes was greater in the first 24 h of the experiments (63, 65, 72 and 74% of the added Cd for 1, 2, 4 and 6 mg Cd l−1, respectively). After 31 days of growth, Pistia stratiotes efficiently removed Cd at the studied concentrations. The macrophyte was able to keep its capacity for Cd removal even though some toxicity symptoms appeared at 4 and 6 mg Cd l−1. The greater the initial concentration, the greater Cd bioaccumulation rates. The increase of Cd concentration in plant tissues occurred especially in roots and was linearly related to the quantity of Cd added. Cd sorption by roots is faster than translocation to the plant aerial part and it occurs mainly during the first 24 h.