Effect Of Heavy Metal Stress (Pb, Ni and Cd) On Protein And Fat Content Of The Moss Thuidium cymbifolium (Doz. and Molk.) Doz. And Molk

Abstract

In the present study individual effect of Pb, Ni and Cd respectively was studied on protein and fat content of the moss Thuidium cymbifolium. A decrease in protein content was noticed in moss treated with Ni and Cd for 3 days, whereas for Pb an increase of 18 % was noticed at 0.1 M conc. However following an exposure period of 6 days, a significant increase in protein content was noticed for all metals, which again declined after 15 days of treatment. A significant increase in fat content of the moss (136 % and 269 % at 0.1 and 0.2 M Pb) was noted after 3 days. Conversely the increase in Cd ranged between 1-27 % during 72 hrs treatment that further increased to 77 % at 0.2 M Cd concentration following 6 days of exposure. After 15 days of Pb, Ni and Cd treatment a more or less decreasing trend was noticed with increasing concentration. Results revealed that T. cymbifolium shows heavy metal sensitivity as evidenced by change in protein and fat content.

Keywords

• T. cymbifolium
• protein
• fat
• heavy metals