Tolerance physiological study of common reed (Phragmites australis) to arsenic in Chelpo contaminated area-Kashmar

This study was examined arsenic tolerance in Phragmites australis L, common reed. We collected plants from five contaminated stations in Chelpo-Kashmar, northeast Iran. Determination of As, Fe, Ca, Mg and Zn was done by atomic absorption spectrometry on the prepared samples. All parts of common reed had efficiencies for removal As from contaminated soils. Maximum accumulation in shoot and roots of common reed was 6.82 and 23.56 mg Kg-1 respectively. Arsenic accumulated mainly in roots of common reed and only minor amount of As translocated to shoot. In P. australis accumulation model followed as this order Root>Rhizome>Stem>leave. In this study following As increment, uptake of K and Fe increased while Ca and Mg didn’t significantly different in contrast to control plants among stations. Root accumulation model similarity between Fe and As and increment 4 and 13.5 times of Fe in root and shoots of contaminated plants in contrast to control plants suggested that Fe play a key role in As detoxification in this plant. Common reed has a good potential to be used for removing As from polluted environment.