ARSENIC TOLERANCE AND ASSIMILATION POTENTIALITY OF JUTE, KENAF AND MESTA AT EARLY GROWING STAGE

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is an environmentally hazardous toxic metalloid. To evaluate As tolerance and assimilation capacity, seedlings of jute (Corchorus capsularis L. var. BJC-7370 and CVE-3), kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L. var. HC-95 and HC-3) and mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa L. var. Samu-93) were grown for 25 days in hydroponic nutrient solution containing four levels of As viz 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg L-1 with four replications. Results were showed that the seedlings of jute, kenaf and mesta were highly potential to tolerate As toxicity. Arsenic had no significant effects on survibility of kenaf, mesta and jute seedlings (var.VE-3). Root and shoot length and dry biomass were decreased with the increasing levels of As. Values of bio-concentration factor indicated the varieties of kenaf, mesta and jute (var.VE-3) were As accumulator. Arsenic accumulation was higher in root than shoot and translocation factor indicated that As is slowly translocated from root to shoot. The rate of translocation is increased with the increasing concentration of As in solution. Highest As contents in shoot (3636.10 mg kg-1) and root (6350.38 mg kg-1) were detected from kenaf HC-3. The highest amount (16.05 mg As pot-1) of As accumulation was also calculated from the variety of kenaf HC-3 with the addition of 45 mg As pot-1. The order of As tolerance and absorption potentiality were kenaf HC-3>mesta Samu-93>jute CVE- 3>kenaf HC-95>jute BJC-7370. These varieties are good cultivar for cultivation and/or phytoremediation of As contaminated environment.