Assessing Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As) bioaccumulation and physiological & biochemical responses of Tagetes erecta L.

It has been observed that exposure to high levels of heavy metals causes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can have an impact on biochemical and physiological functions. The impact of the two most prevalent heavy metals (Cd and As) on physiological and biochemical parameters of Tagetes erecta were examined in this study. The effects of these metals on T. erecta plant proline and polyphenol content, shoot and root length, fresh weight, chlorophyll content and enzyme activities (APX, CAT and GR) were the focus of the study. The study found that Cd and As decreased shoot length (59.667 & 57.747 cm), root length (6.1 & 5.425 cm), fresh weight of shoot (13.053 & 11.571 gm) and fresh weight of root (1.925 & 1.671 gm). The highest accumulation of Cd and As was in root tissues (257.324 & 42.26 mg kg-1). Declined level of chlorophyll and elevated level of proline and polyphenol were observed. T. erecta is easy to grow, metal tolerant and, due to its higher biomass, it can be used for remediation of metal contaminated soil.