WATER FERNS OF Salviniaceae FAMILY IN PHYTOREMEDIATION AND PHYTOINDICATION OF CONTAMINATED WATER

Abstract

Background. Aquatic ecosystems are subjected to significant stress loads and depletion due to the influx of pollutants of inorganic and organic origin, that pose a serious threat to human health. The United Nations Environment Program has defined phytoremediation as an effective eco-technology for the removal, detoxification and immobilization of pollutants using plants. Water ferns of the Salviniaceae family belong to promising phytoremediants. They are characterized by high growth rates, resistance to adverse environmental factors, capable of adsorbing pollutants, including heavy metals. Species of the genus Salvinia and Azolla are used to assess the ecological state of water and study ecotoxicological effects of pollutants. Aim. Analysis and generalization of the latest scientific results on the use of species of the Salviniaceae family for phytoremediation and phytoindication of contaminated water. Results. In this review, we have highlighted key information on emerging phytotechnologies, including phytodegradation, phytostabilization, rhizofiltration, rhizodegradation, and phytovolatization. The growth and distribution features of species of the genus Salvinia and Azolla were described and current information on the use of water ferns for cleaning polluted water from heavy metals, inorganic and organic pollutants was presented. Data on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of the genus Salvinia and Azolla species adaptation to the toxic effect of pollutants of various origins were discussed. We focused special attention on the use of water ferns of the Salviniaceae family to control water pollution.