The plant species used in this experiment Chromolaena odorata, Synedrella nodiflora and Talinum triangulare were selected on the basis of their widespread distribution in Nigeria. The ability of these plants to tolerate and accumulate Pb was investigated. Also, the effect of Ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the phytoremediating potential of the plants was monitored. The uptake of Pb in these plants was in the order: S. nodiflora C. odorata T. triangulare with a corresponding bioaccumulation factor (BF) of 0.28±0.08 - 0.50±0.14, 0.20±0.05 - 0.39±0.16 and 0.17±0.03 - 0.27±0.09 respectively. Addition of EDTA significantly increased the uptake of Pb in these plants with a consequent increase in the BF of 0.33±0.02 – 0.61±0.09, 0.28±0.09 – 0.43±0.19 and 0.22±0.04 – 0.28±0.13 in the order above. This order of Pb uptake was the same for untreated and EDTA-treated contaminated soil. However, the transfer factor (TF) was in the order T. triangulare C. odorata S. nodiflora. Also, S. nodiflora gave the highest root and shoot biomass production which confers on it an additional advantage for the purpose of phytoremediation. S. nodiflora possess the ability to be useful for the purpose of Phytoremediation of Pb contaminated soil.
