Invasive Weed Asystasia gangetica as a Potential Biomonitor and a Phytoremediator of Potentially Toxic Metals: A Case Study in Peninsular Malaysia

Chee Kong Yap, Weiyun Chew, Khalid Awadh Al-Mutairi, Salman Abdo Al-Shami, Rosimah Nulit, Mohd Hafiz Ibrahim, Koe Wei Wong, Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari, Moslem Sharifinia, Wan Hee Cheng, Hideo Okamura, Mohamad Saupi Ismail and Muhammad Saleem
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Chee Kong Yap: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Weiyun Chew: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Khalid Awadh Al-Mutairi: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 741, Saudi Arabia
Salman Abdo Al-Shami: Indian River Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, FL 34945, USA
Rosimah Nulit: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Mohd Hafiz Ibrahim: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Koe Wei Wong: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Alireza Riyahi Bakhtiari: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor 46417-76489, Iran
Moslem Sharifinia: Shrimp Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bushehr 75169-89177, Iran
Wan Hee Cheng: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Inti International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
Hideo Okamura: Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Faculty of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe 658-0022, Japan
Mohamad Saupi Ismail: Fisheries Research Institute, Pulau Pinang 11960, Malaysia
Muhammad Saleem: Department of Chemistry, Government Post Graduate College Mirpur, Affiliated Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Mirpur 10250, Pakistan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-28

Abstract: The invasive weed Asystasia gangetica was investigated for its potential as a biomonitor and as a phytoremediator of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in Peninsular Malaysia owing to its ecological resistance towards unfavourable environments. The biomonitoring potential of PTMs was determined based on the correlation analysis of the metals in the different parts of the plant (leaves, stems, and roots) and its habitat topsoils. In the roots, the concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn ranged from 0.03 to 2.18, 9.22 to 139, 0.63 to 5.47, 2.43 to 10.5, and 50.7 to 300, respectively. In the leaves, the concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn ranged from 0.03 to 1.16, 7.94 to 20.2, 0.03 to 6.13, 2.10 to 21.8, and 18.8 to 160, respectively. In the stems, the concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn ranged from 0.03 to 1.25, 5.57 to 11.8, 0.23 to 3.69, 0.01 to 7.79, and 26.4 to 246, respectively. On the other hand, the phytoremediation potential of the five metals was estimated based on the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and the translocation factor (TF) values. Correlation analysis revealed that the roots and stems could be used as biomonitors of Cu, the stems as biomonitors of Ni, the roots and leaves as biomonitors of Pb, and all three parts of the plant as biomonitors of Zn. According to the BCF values, in the topsoil, the “easily, freely, leachable, or exchangeable” geochemical fractions of the five metals could be more easily transferred to the roots, leaves, and stems when compared with total concentrations. Based on the TF values of Cd, Ni, and Pb, the metal transfer to the stems (or leaves) from the roots was efficient (>1.0) at most sampling sites. The results of BCF and TF showed that A. gangetica was a good phytoextractor for Cd and Ni, and a good phytostabilizer for Cu, Pb, and Zn. Therefore, A. gangetica is a good candidate as a biomonitor and a phytoremediator of Ni, Pb, and Zn for sustainable contaminant remediation subject to suitable field management strategies.

Keywords: potentially toxic metals; invasive weeds; phytoremediation; biomonitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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