Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ADVANCES IN DUCKWEED RESEARCH: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE, APPLICATIONS, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Shweta Chikhale, Pranay Abhang and Girish Pathade

Abstract

In recent years, the tiny aquatic plant duckweed has gained prominence as a source of protein-rich animal feed, organic fertilizer, and biofuel. It has great applicability in wastewater treatment, toxicity testing, basic research, and evolutionary model systems. With that in mind, this paper briefly reviews general characteristics, distribution, environmental requirements, aquaculture, and some uses of duckweed.