Biodiversity of Duckweeds in Eastern China and Their Potential for Bioremediation of Municipal and Industrial Wastewater

Yuzhen  Zhou; Guimin  Chen; Anton  Peterson; Xiaomeng  Zha; Jingwen  Cheng; Sijia  Li; Dandan  Cui; Haotian  Zhu; Olena  Kishchenko; Nikolai  Borisjuk

doi:10.4236/gep.2018.63010

Yuzhen Zhou^*, Guimin Chen, Anton Peterson, Xiaomeng Zha, Jingwen Cheng, Sijia Li, Dandan Cui, Haotian Zhu, Olena Kishchenko, Nikolai Borisjuk

Abstract:

Duckweed is a group of aquatic plants with the potential of wastewater remediation and fast accumulation of biomass. The accumulated biomass, rich in cellulose, starch and protein, can be used for biofuel, bio-fertilizer, animal feed and human food. Characterization of natural biodiversity of duckweed species is essential for the germplasm preservation and various practical applications. We have collected samples of duckweed in eastern China and characterized species biodiversity by genotyping, using chloroplast (atpF-atpH and psbK-psbI spacers). Spirodela polyrhiza was revealed as a clear dominant duckweed species in all locations of the area. Other duckweed species were identified as Landoltia punctata, Lemna aequinoctialis and Lemna turionifera. Selected isolates of these four species were used in the experiments to estimate their potential in removing nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients from municipal and industrial wastewater sampled at the local sewage plants. Duckweed was able to reduce the concentration of nitrogen up to 98% and phosphorus up to 96%. The presented data demonstrates high efficiency of the local duckweed isolates for bioremediation of different types of wastewater and the great potential of duckweed for wastewater treatment when incorporated into the purification chain.

Keywords: Duckweed Biodiversity, Municipal Wastewater, Industrial Wastewater, Water Remediation, Nitrogen, Phosphorus

Cite this paper: Zhou, Y. , Chen, G. , Peterson, A. , Zha, X. , Cheng, J. , Li, S. , Cui, D. , Zhu, H. , Kishchenko, O. and Borisjuk, N. (2018) Biodiversity of Duckweeds in Eastern China and Their Potential for Bioremediation of Municipal and Industrial Wastewater. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 6, 108-116. doi: 10.4236/gep.2018.63010.

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