Exposure of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms to salt water and its implications

Abstract

In this article, we discuss the effect of salinity on the viability and decomposition of Eichhornia crassipes plant under normal photoperiod, dark condition and physiological response. Highest concentration of total organic carbon (27.43 mg C l-1) was recorded in 15 psu salinity after 45 days. The TOC output was more in case of leaf (3.6 mg C l-1) than petiole (2.39 mg C l-1) under dark condition, after 21 days in freshwater. Salt stress was found to enhance the superoxide dismutase activity at 20 psu in both leaf and petiole. Enzyme activity declined when salt-stressed plants were transferred to nutrient enriched freshwater. This indicated that 20 psu could be a plant's salt tolerance limit. The potential transfer test conducted in this study showed that Eichorrnia introduction through shipping activities is less likely.