Bioaccumulation and Photosynthetic Activity Response of Kenaf (Hibicus cannabinus L.) to Cadmium and Zinc

The response of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) to Zn/Cd contamination in soil was investigated using pot experiment. Plants were grown on soils containing increasing doses of two metals. Zn and Cd were applied alone or combined. Growth parameters as well as content of photosynthetic pigments, and photosynthetic performance were determined. Soil and plant tissue were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Metal concentration in plants increased when metal dose in soil increased. The Zn and Cd concentrations were analyzed in order of root >leaf>stem. The Zn-Cd interaction reduced the Cd concentration in plants and alleviates the toxicity of Cd on photosynthetic system, and showed that Cd and Zn acted synergistically to Cd accumulation in plants. The reduction of photosynthetic activity observed did not correlate with the changes in the biomass production. Hibiscus cannabinus L. could be an accumulator candidate of Cd and Zn contaminated sites