Widad M.T. Al-Asadi - Department of Ecology, College of Sciences, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
Alla N. Al-Waheeb - Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq
Sahar A.A. Malik Al-Saadi - Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Basrah, Iraq
Sadeq S. Kareem Al-Taie - Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Misan, Iraq

The study reported the effect of contamination of Sesuvium portulacastrum L. after exposure to Ag and Pb for four weeks. The results showed that the total protein, chlorophyll, carotene, and biomass declined gradually by elevating   the heavy metal concentrations. Elemental analyses of the leaves were performed using scanning electron microscopy with energy–dispersive- X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The main mineral of control treatment contained ۱۱ elements including carbon (۵۷.۵۰%) followed by oxygen (۲۲.۷۶%) and trace iron and lead. The minerals in the leaves treated with ۱۰۰ mg L-۱ Pb exhibited ۱۲ elements with high levels of lead (۵۲.۰۳%). The leaves treated with ۱۰۰ mg L-۱ Ag showed ۱۱ elements with high levels of silver (۴۳.۰۲%) followed by carbon (۳۴.۹۵%) and oxygen (۱۱.۱۸%). Anatomical study indicated that the Ag and Pb can accumulate in internal tissues and causes several alterations such as shape of leaves, stems and roots, as well as thickness and number of cortical parenchymal cells. In addition, unrecognized the endodermis, and exodermis, the root thickness was ۶۶۳.۲۱ µm in control group, while in Ag and Pb treatments were ۴۹۸.۳۲ µm and ۳۷۵.۶۱ µm respectively.

Sesuvium portulacastrum, Chlorophyll, protein, Biomass, anatomy, Stem, Roots, SEM-EDS