My journey into this research began with a simple question: how do invisible pharmaceutical pollutants affect our delicate aquatic ecosystems? To explore this, I committed to a rigorous schedule, conducting weekly experiments to track the impact of discarded hormones, such as Estromon and Provera, on duckweed. Through continuous discussions with my advisor, we uncovered that these “invisible killers” cause severe growth inhibition, frond fragmentation, and chlorosis. This experience transformed me into an “environmental detective,” proving that duckweed can serve as a vital early warning bioindicator for hormonal pollution in aquatic environments.
However, this path was defined by unexpected challenges, as cultivating duckweed proved far more difficult than anticipated due to its high sensitivity. A sudden cold snap once halted its growth entirely, forcing me to urgently install professional growth lights, and I even battled water lily aphids that preyed on the fronds and threatened my samples. Driven by curiosity regarding the underlying physiological mechanisms, I introduced an ethylene antagonist (1-MCP) into my methodology. The results demonstrated that the antagonist effectively mitigated growth inhibition, revealing that the damage is partially mediated through the ethylene signaling pathway.