Phytoremediation of Domestic Wastewater

Phytoremediation is fresh, well organized, low priced and recycled method for control of environmental pollution. In this phytoremediation technology, plants are used to enhance the status of environment. By using this method, organic and inorganic pollutant can easily eliminate from domestic. An aquatic plant culture was grown in regimented cement tank. Domestic waste Water was filled in this cement tank for specified interval of seven days. Before growth of aquatic plant culture quality of domestic waste water was evaluated. After specified time interval domestic waste water quality was again evaluated to check improvement of quality of waste water. The result of analysis indicates that phytoremediation process improves the quantity of waste water. For this phytoremediation process Canna, Hyacinth colocasia Arabica, Typha etc. aquatic plants are used. These aquatic plants absorb organic and inorganic parameters from waste water.

Endophytic Colletotrichum Species from Aquatic Plants in Southwest China

Colletotrichum species are plant pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes in many economically important hosts. Many studies have investigated the diversity and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species in common ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables. However, Colletotrichum species occurring in aquatic plants are not well known. During the investigation of the diversity of endophytic fungi in aquatic plants in southwest China, 66 Colletotrichum isolates were obtained from aquatic plants there, and 26 of them were selected for sequencing and analyses of actin (ACT), chitin synthase (CHS-1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and β-tubulin (TUB2) genomic regions. Based on morphological characterization and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses, 13 Colletotrichum species were recognized, namely, C. baiyuense sp. nov., C. casaense sp. nov., C. demersi sp. nov., C. dianense sp. nov., C. fructicola, C. garzense sp. nov., C. jiangxiense, C. karstii, C. philoxeroidis sp. nov., C. spicati sp. nov., C. tengchongense sp. nov., C. vulgaris sp. nov., C. wuxuhaiense sp. nov. Two species complexes, the C. boninense species complex and C. gloeosporioides species complex, were found to be associated with aquatic plants. Pathogenicity tests revealed a broad diversity in pathogenicity and aggressiveness among the eight new Colletotrichum species.

Growth and Nutritional Quality of Lemnaceae Viewed Comparatively in an Ecological and Evolutionary Context

This review focuses on recently characterized traits of the aquatic floating plant Lemna with an emphasis on its capacity to combine rapid growth with the accumulation of high levels of the essential human micronutrient zeaxanthin due to an unusual pigment composition not seen in other fast-growing plants. In addition, Lemna’s response to elevated CO2 was evaluated in the context of the source–sink balance between plant sugar production and consumption. These and other traits of Lemnaceae are compared with those of other floating aquatic plants as well as terrestrial plants adapted to different environments. It was concluded that the unique features of aquatic plants reflect adaptations to the freshwater environment, including rapid growth, high productivity, and exceptionally strong accumulation of high-quality vegetative storage protein and human antioxidant micronutrients. It was further concluded that the insensitivity of growth rate to environmental conditions and plant source–sink imbalance may allow duckweeds to take advantage of elevated atmospheric CO2 levels via particularly strong stimulation of biomass production and only minor declines in the growth of new tissue. It is proposed that declines in nutritional quality under elevated CO2 (due to regulatory adjustments in photosynthetic metabolism) may be mitigated by plant–microbe interaction, for which duckweeds have a high propensity.

An Overview of the Determination of Biodiversity of Wetlands

Wetland ecosystems support rich and unique biodiversity. Biodiversity of a given ecosystem in general and wetlands in particular provide important insights to the ecological health of an area. The Ramsar Convention 1971 identified nine criteria for identifying wetlands of international importance. Out of the nine criteria, eight are linked to biodiversity of which three are based on sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity, two are specific for water birds, two are specific for fish, and one criterion for other taxa. Hence, determination of biodiversity of wetlands is of utmost importance. In order to understand that birds, fishes, amphibians, odonates, mammals, and aquatic plants were particularly selected as indicators of wetland biodiversity, the chapter discusses the different methodologies about determination of each of these taxa under different criteria as mentioned above. These methodologies will help various stakeholders in appropriate determination of biodiversity of wetlands of a particular area.

Growth performance of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultivated in water from ex-sand pit lakes by phytoremediation treatments

Utilization of ex-sand pit lakes for aquaculture is difficult due to low water quality and high concentrations of iron (Fe). Phytoremediation using aquatic plants has been proven to be effective in reducing Fe in waters. This study aims to determine the growth, feed conversion efficiency and survival rate of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured with ex-sand mining water media with phytoremediation treatment. Phytoremediation treatment was carried out by Eichhornnia crassipes, Azolla pinnata, and Salvinia molesta. Fish culture experiments were carried out in plastic tarpaulin tanks for 40 days, with ad satiation feeding, three times a day using the commercial feed. The results showed that phytoremediation with aquatic plants had succeeded in reducing Fe to a level suitable for fish culture. Fish culture experiments showed an absolute length growth rate of 0.09-0.18 cm/day and an absolute weight growth rate of 0.11-0.16 g/day. The feed conversion ratio was 1.18-1.40 and the survival rate was 98.04-99.08%. The survival rate of tilapia is high, the feed conversion ratio is medium and growth is low. The high environmental temperature and the decrease in water quality due to the absence of water changes and aeration are suspected of causing the low growth of fish. Therefore, further research with water change and aeration experiments and the use of other species of fish is needed to follow up the results of this study.

Traditional usage of underutilized aquatic plants found in the Imphal valley of Manipur

The paper focuses on the traditional usage of aquatic plants found in the wetland areas of the Imphal valley of Manipur. From the survey, 30 aquatic plants have been collected use for the management of various health conditions. Most of the collected plants consume as daily food items, some used for specic remedial purposes in the treatment of certain types of ailments and diseases like cough, fever, ulcer, piles, diarrhea, jaundice, skin diseases, rheumatic pain, diabetes, hypertension, urinary troubles, body pain, respiratory problems, urinary problems, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Accordingly, different parts of the plant are used as a single item or by mixing with other ingredients in various forms of fresh or raw, culinary, or as a tonic or dry or powder form to treat the diseases. The aquatic plants also incorporate in the preparation of various traditional dishes. 70% of collected wetland plants are marketable provides a means of livelihood and source of income for the poor and needy people. Therefore, proper documentation and preservation of traditional knowledge are essential that may provide useful for future generations through research in pharmaceuticals and drug discovery.