Bioaccumulation of heavy metal ions and their effect on certain biochemical parameters of water hyacinth weevil Neochetina eichhorniae (Warner)
Abstract Water hyacinth plants treated for a week with varying concentrations (10–50 ppm) of soluble Cd, Mn and Zn were taken and fed to the phytophagous weevils Neochetina eichhorniae (Warner), which were subsequently examined for the toxic effects and other parameters. These insects were processed for biochemical accumulation of metal ions and their effect on protein, DNA and RNA. Cd and Mn ions interfered with the protein synthesis as was evident with a lower value of RNA and DNA content compared to control, whereas zinc demonstrated the opposite effect i.e., increase in RNA and DNA content and also significant increase in protein synthesis. The possible mechanism of these variations are discussed in the light of the bioaccumulated metal ions in the living system.