ABSTRACT
Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of Iron Ore Tailings (IOT) both individually as well as in combination with soil (at different proportions) on growth, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzymes and accumulation heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb) from Iron ore tailings by Grevillea pteridifolia. Results suggested that the plants grown on tailings showed an increased growth, chlorophyll content, as well as metal accumulation with increasing proportion of tailings in the soil. Furthermore, an increase in antioxidant activities in plants grown on tailings as compared to control suggests plant efficiency to overcome stress generated due to excess accumulation of heavy metals. The order of accumulation of various heavy metals in the plant parts was observed to be Fe > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni. Overall, Grevillea pteridifolia was found to be well adapted in iron ore tailings and it may be recommended for phytoremediation of most of the studied metals.
