EFFECT OF LEAD ON THE MORPHOPHYSIOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF A HALOPHYTE SPECIES (ATRIPLEX HALIMUS) IN A SEMI-ARID REGION OF NORTH-EASTERN ALGERIA

Abstract

Metal pollution of soils is currently one of the most sensitive environmental problems threatening our ecosystems, with detrimental effects on plant production and biodiversity. In this context, our work focuses on the effect of lead on the morphological and physiological behavior of a halophyte (Atriplex halimus L.) and its phyto-accumulative potential in heavy metals by applying increasing concentrations of 2000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 ppm of lead (Pb). For a two-week period after 60 days from seeding. The parameters evaluated were the morphological parameters (stem length, leaf area and root length) and the physiological parameters (chlorophyll (a), chlorophyll (b), total chlorophyll and carotenoids). Our results indicated that the effect of different lead concentrations led to a reduction in stem and root elongation, as well as a decrease in leaf area compared with the control. Our findings show a significant decrease in chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids). Finally, Atriplex halimus was found to be highly resistant to heavy metals (in the case of lead), making it a very important candidate for depolluting sites contaminated by heavy metals (phytoremediation technique).