Evaluation of arsenic remediation, morphological and biochemical response by Vetiveria zizanoides L. plants grown on artificially arsenic contaminated soil: A field study

Abstract The present study evaluated arsenic (As) remediation capacity of Vetiveria. zizanoides plants from artificially contaminated soil (0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 mg kg−1) after various durations ie. 30, 60 and 90 d. Plants were found effective, maximum As removal being 71% after 90 d when grown in 50 mg kg−1 As. Plant growth was not affected at lower As levels (up to 250 mg kg−1) and V. zizanoides plants grown at 50 mg kg−1 have shown increase in number of tillers (43%), biomass (30%) and plant height (26%) compared to control after 90 days. Thiobarbituric acid reactive metabolites (TBARM) content has not shown any change in As exposed plants up to 30 d, maximum increase in TBARM content was found in roots and shoots of the V. zizanoides plants as 84% and 79% after 90 d when grown at 1000 mg kg−1 As contaminated plot. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and catalase were found to increase in response to As stress in a coordinated manner. Besides, various non- enzymatic antioxidants also provided defense to plants against As stress. High As accumulation and tolerance potential of V. zizanoides from artificially contaminated soil coupled with large biomass and root system, suggests its feasibility for the revegatation/remediation of As contaminated soils of West Bengal (India).