In the present study the physiological response of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms) to the combined exposure of excess nutrients and Hg was examined. Young water hyacinth plants were exposed to a range of HgCl2 and KNO3 concentrations. After eight weeks, submerged plant tissues reached an Hg concentration of 4 mg g-1. The accumulation of P and S was reduced by the addition of HgCl2, and also the P and K concentrations in emerged and submerged parts decreased. In contrast, the addition of HgCl2 increased Ca and Mg concentrations in submerged parts. Furthermore, the concentration ratios of submerged/emerged parts for Ca, Mg and P were also reduced by the addition of HgCl2. The interaction of HgCl2 and KNO3 was synergistic and decreased... |