Physiological and biochemical responses of Eichhornia crassipes exposed to Cr (III).

The effect of exposure of Eichhornia crassipes to Cr (III) was assessed by measuring changes in photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and guaiacol peroxidase activities, as well as Cr concentration in tissues. Cr concentration in roots was significantly higher than in aerial parts and increased with Cr concentration in water. Photosynthetic pigments increased significantly, whereas the activities of antioxidant enzymes varied differently in plant tissues. Low Cr concentrations induced a rapid response of E. crassipes during short-term exposure, implying that the antioxidant system conferred redox homeostasis. Results showed that Cr (III) was more toxic at the two highest concentrations and long-term exposure, while it was not harmful but beneficial at the two lowest concentrations and short-term exposure. This work concludes that E. crassipes was able to grow under Cr (III) stress by protecting itself with an increase in the activity of its antioxidant system.