An Interactive Effect of Six Heavy Metals on the Growth Characteristics of Gracilaria Blodgettii Harvey and Enteromorpha Intestinalis (Linn.)Link
S. GirijaDepartment of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai
Abstract: The heavy metal toxicity in Gracilaria blodgettii and Enteromorpha intestinalis showed reduction in their fresh weight, carbohydrate and protein concentration with that of control. There was a significant decrease in the relative growth and total chlorophyll content when concentrations of heavy metals were increased. At low metal concentration many of the biochemical characteristics of the algae were not affected suggesting that the metals have not gained access to sensitive sites of the cells, while higher metal concentrations resulted in enzyme poisoning. The toxicity of heavy metals on these two seaweeds are in the following order Gracilaria blodgettii Hg>Cd>Cr=Pb=Zn>Cu and Enteromorpha intestinalis Hg>Cd>Pb=Zn>Cr=Cu
Keywords: Gracilaria blodgettii; Enteromorpha intestinalis; heavy metals; Cadium ; Mercury; chromium; Zinc Back to TOC