Phytoremediation of metals contaminated soils by catharanthus roseus and ruellia tuberosa

Heavy metal pollution causes potential ecological risk. Phytoremediation technology is cost effective and ecologically friendly in which plant utilizes its natural abilities to restore environment. Phytoremediation is a diverse collection of plant-based technologies that use either naturally occurring, or genetically engineered plants to clean contaminated environments. Plant selection is most important for determining the success or failure of the phytoremediation project. In the present study Catharanthus roseus and Ruellia tuberosa plant species was used for phytoremediation of Lead, Nickel, Zinc, Cadmium and Chromium contaminated soils. C. roseus was a shrub species belongs to Apocynaceae family and R. tuberosa was an herb species belongs to Acanthaceae family. The experiments were conducted using known metal solutions. The aqueous solutions were administered for 60 days to the experimental plants. The metal total accumulation in the plant (leaf, stem and root) was calculated. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) and Translocation factor (TF) was also calculated. Based on the results C. roseus highly accumulated all the five metals. R. tuberosa highly accumulated Pb, Zn and Cr. C. roseus species w as recommended for phytoremediation of Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd and Cr contaminated soils. R. tuberosa was recommended for phytoremediation of Pb, Zn and Cr contaminated soils. Finally it was concluded that these two species was good accumulators of metals.