Potamogeton: Biopollutant or a bioresource
Aijaz Hassan Ganie, Zafar A. Reshi and B. A. Wafai
Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar - 190006, Jammu & Kashmir (India) E-mail: aijazku@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The genus Potamogeton L. (potamogetonaceae) is one of the largest aquatic genera distributed all over the world. Eleven species of the genus inhabit different freshwater ecosystems of Kashmir valley. P. crispus, P. nodosus, and P. pectinatus constitute a group that makes the genus a serious biopollutant. Luxuriant growth of P. crispus, P. lunens, P. nodosus, P. pectinatus and P. wrightii in irrigation channels and lake out-lets cause chocking and prevent free flow of water, which in turn causes siltation of water bodies. Widespread of these species in lakes, ponds, water reservoirs and rice fields etc. have deleterious economic and ecological effects. Notwithstanding the harmful effects of Potamogeton species on water bodies of the region, P. crispus and P. lucens are used as manure and preparation of floating gardens; P. natans are used as fodder. Fruit of different species mature and ripe during different months of a year and are used as food by ducks and water fowl. The young leaves of P. crispus and P. lucens are good source of food for fishes. The tubers of P. pectinatus are eaten raw or after roasting. Balance of evidence, however, indicates that Potamogeton is more of a biopollutant than a bioresource and thus urgent measures are required for its control.