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Effects of diesel fuel contamination on seed germination of four crop plants - Arachis hypogaea, Vigna unguiculata, Sorghum bicolor and Zea mays
Abstract
The effects of different levels (%) of diesel fuel contamination on four crop plants Arachis hypogaea, Vigna unguiculata, Sorghum bicolor and Zea mays were studied. One percent level of contamination did
not significantly reduce seed germination in Z. mays and S. bicolor but did in A. hypogaea and V. unguiculata (P<0.05). The 2.00% level of contamination reduced germination in A. hypogaea. Germination was reduced with increasing levels of contamination in the four test plants. There was total inhibition of germination in S. bicolor and V. unguiculata in 4.00% level of contamination. There was no significant difference in percentage seed germination between 2.00, 3.00, and 4.00% levels of
contamination in Z. mays. The 4.00% level of contamination had more deleterious effect than 5.00% for Sorghum and Vigna species. Diesel fuel contamination caused a reduction in the length of the radicle
for the four crop plants and this varied with the level of contamination. It was observed that 5.00% level contamination did not affect the radicle length of V. unguiculata significantly. Diesel fuel contamination
also caused a reduction in the plumule length of Z. mays and S. bicolor. The shortest plumule was recorded in 5.00% level of contamination for Z. mays and 3.00% in S. bicolor. The phytotoxicity of the different levels of diesel fuel contamination on seed germination indices thus varied with the type of crop plant. The study indicates that Z. mays and A. hypogaea have more potential for use in phytoremediation of diesel fuel contaminated soils than S. bicolor and V. unguiculata.
not significantly reduce seed germination in Z. mays and S. bicolor but did in A. hypogaea and V. unguiculata (P<0.05). The 2.00% level of contamination reduced germination in A. hypogaea. Germination was reduced with increasing levels of contamination in the four test plants. There was total inhibition of germination in S. bicolor and V. unguiculata in 4.00% level of contamination. There was no significant difference in percentage seed germination between 2.00, 3.00, and 4.00% levels of
contamination in Z. mays. The 4.00% level of contamination had more deleterious effect than 5.00% for Sorghum and Vigna species. Diesel fuel contamination caused a reduction in the length of the radicle
for the four crop plants and this varied with the level of contamination. It was observed that 5.00% level contamination did not affect the radicle length of V. unguiculata significantly. Diesel fuel contamination
also caused a reduction in the plumule length of Z. mays and S. bicolor. The shortest plumule was recorded in 5.00% level of contamination for Z. mays and 3.00% in S. bicolor. The phytotoxicity of the different levels of diesel fuel contamination on seed germination indices thus varied with the type of crop plant. The study indicates that Z. mays and A. hypogaea have more potential for use in phytoremediation of diesel fuel contaminated soils than S. bicolor and V. unguiculata.
