Evaluation of the growth, enzymatic activity, electrolyte leakage, and phytoremediation efficiency of Conocarpus erectus under cadmium and lead stress

Contamination of agricultural soil by heavy metals poses a significant threat to soil quality and crop yields. Using plants as a natural remediation approach attracts researchers' attention around the world. A 16-month pot experiment was conducted using <i>Conocarpus erectus</i> in a randomized complete block design. The growth, enzymatic activity, electrolyte leakage, and remediation potential were estimated under Cd nitrate]40 low (L), 60 medium (M), 80 high (H) mg/kg soil [and Pb nitrate]400 (L), 700 (M), 1,000 (H) mg/kg soil [applied individually and in combination. <i>Conocarpus erectus</i> demonstrated a good tolerance (over 70%) against lower and medium cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels and a medium resistance against high Cd and Pb levels, with a survival rate of 100% under all the treatments used. The most negative treatment on the growth traits and tolerance of <i>C. erectus</i> was (H) Cd and (H) Pb, which reduced plant height; chlorophyll index; dry weights of the leaves, stems, and roots; root length; and tolerance index of biomass and roots by 25.87%, 48.97%, 50.56%, 47.25%, 58.67%, 50.18%, 51.00%, and 50% in comparison to the respective control, consecutively. Relative to the control, all Cd and Pb applications increased polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, and the increment was parallel up to medium Cd and Pb levels and then decreased with their high levels but still higher than the control. Electrolyte leakage (EL) was upheaved by raising the levels of Cd and Pb, and it reached the maximum (52.79%) at the (H) Cd (H) Pb treatment. Cd and Pb in the leaves, stems, and roots were boosted by raising their levels in the treatments. <i>Conocarpus erectus</i> is considered a phytoextractor for the Cd levels used because the bioconcentration factor of the stem (BCF_s) and the translocation factor (TF) of Cd were >1, and it is a suitable plant for Pb phytoextraction at (L) Pb, (M) Pb, and (M) Cd (M) Pb levels because its Pb BCF_s and bioconcentration factor of the root (BCF_r) were <1 and its Pb TF was >1. On the other hand, <i>C. erectus</i> is considered a phytostabilizator for Pb at (H) Pb, (L) Cd, (L) Pb, and (H) Cd (H) Pb levels because its Pb BCF_s, BCF_r, and TF were <1.