Exploring the Wonders of Duckweed: Unveiling the Intriguing World of the Smallest Free-Floating Aquatic Plant

Abstract

Duckweed is a member of the family Lemnaceae, which also includes the fastest-growing angiosperms, Wolffia. There are 36 species of duckweed, which are divided into five genera. The duckweed plant is widely distributed in ponds and ditches and is known for its high nutritional content, which includes a high protein as well as fat content, making it an excellent source of food for humans, poultry, and fish. Due to its ability to accumulate various chemicals and heavy metals, it plays an important role in phytoremediation. There is a high potential for biomass and starch accumulation in this plant. Biofuels can be produced from duckweed as the biomass accumulates rapidly. This review aims to present the latest research on duckweed species in an updated manner, providing information on the latest nutritional profile, molecular taxonomy, biomass accumulation, duckweed as a model plant, and duckweed’s impact on the environment and sustainability.