Typha angustifolia stress tolerance to wastewater with different levels of chemical oxygen demand

The stress tolerance of wetland plants is important to their potential use in wastewater treatment. In the present study, we investigated the physiological response of Typha angustifolia (T. angustifolia) to wastewater with different chemical oxygen demands (CODs) by bucket experiments. Activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. The content of total chlorophyll and lipid peroxidation was also determined as parameters. Results showed that water body with a COD range of 100–800 mg L− 1 caused different responses of T. angustifolia compared with the control (0 mg L− 1 COD). At the COD range of 0–400 mg L− 1, the physiology of T. angustifolia did not change significantly. However, it changed sharply and significantly when the COD concentration was at 600 and 800 mg L− 1. We suggest that T. angustifolia can grow normally under a COD level less than 400 mg L− 1.

► T. angustifolia is influenced by chemical oxygen demand (COD) of wastewater.
► Different physiological responses were induced by different levels of COD.
► T. angustifolia can grow normally at COD below 400 mg L-1.