Abstraet--AAL-toxins and fumonisin B~ are phytotoxic to susceptible plants by inhibiting the enzyme ceramide synthase. Australifungin, which is structurally unrelated to these toxins, inhibits the same enzyme in the sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway of animals. In duckweed (Lemna pausicostata)cultures, 5 ~M australifungin caused accumulation of the sphingolipid precursors, phytospingosine and s...

This study aimed at assessing the toxic effects of industrial effluents using duckweed (Lemna minor L.) plants as a test system. Growth inhibition test according to standardized protocol (ISO 20079) was performed. The suitability of the Comet assay (indicates DNA damage) and certain parameters such as peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation level, as biomarkers for environmental monitoring w...

An experiment was carried out to investigate the dynamics of nitrogen (N) in the rumen and abomasum of rumen and abomasum-cannulated sheep using 15N dilution techniques. The 15N tracer was administered into the rumen as 15N-ammonia or 15N-labelled duckweed and the transfer of the 15N label to various N pools was followed. Flow of digesta from the rumen into the abomasum was ascertained by doubl...

This study investigated the response of arsenic-stressed yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) towards homeopathically potentized Arsenicum album, a duckweed nosode, and gibberellic acid. The three test substances were applied in five potency levels (17x, 18x, 24x, 28x, 30x) and compared to controls (unsuccussed and succussed water) with respect to influencing specific growth parameters. Five indepe...

Microplastics in the environment occur different sizes and shapes are made of various polymers. Therefore, they also considerably differ their properties ecotoxicity. However, majority microplastics research uses pre-made spherical microplastics, which practically do not exist environment. Our work focused on a comprehensive study six types microplastic that were prepared to simulate common fou...

Leachates from active and closed municipal solid waste landfills can be a major source of contamination to groundwater and surface waters. In the present study the toxic and genotoxic potential of leachate from an old sanitary landfill prior to and following chemical and electrochemical treatments were assessed using Lemna, Allium, and comet tests. Photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde (indi...

Lanthanide emissions to the environment increase as a result of the growing industrial applications of these elements. However, robust data to evaluate the environmental fate of lanthanides are scarce. This article describes the accumulation and elimination of lanthanum (La) by common duckweed (Lemna minor L.). Speciation modeling was performed to assure that solubility products were not exceed...

Environmental homogeneity is being continuously disturbed and affected by artificially introduced loads of chemical toxicants that also include heavy metals. The Tiljala wetlands of the eastern fringe of Calcutta, West Bengal (India) are a virtual sink for the deposition of urban and industrial wastes that get admixed with the aquatic environment. We have selected Lemna minor (duckweed), as a r...

Treatment of domestic wastewater, at both the village and urban level, remains a problem in most developing countries. This is a review paper illustrating the use of duckweed-based wastewater treatment systems that provide genuine solutions to these problems. They are inexpensive to install as well as to operate and maintain. They do not require expensive technologies. Therefore, this review pa...