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Journal of Environmental Biology

pISSN: 0254-8704 ; eISSN: 2394-0379 ; CODEN: JEBIDP

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    Abstract - Issue Mar 2009, 29 (2)                                     Back


Accumulation, tolerance and impact of aluminium, copper and zinc on growth and nitrate reductase activity of Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort)

C.E. Umebese* and A.F. Motajo

Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, P.M.B. 1029 Unilag Post Office, Akoka Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

(Received: May 01, 2006 ; Revised received: February 23, 2007 ; Accepted: May 17, 2007)

Abstract: Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort) was subjected to toxic concentrations of Al (3 and 9 mg l -1), Zn (3 and 9 mg l -1) and Cu (2.5 and 7 mg l -1) in culture solutions for 15 days. The higher dose of Al enhanced the chlorophyll content significantly (p<0.05) in the first 6 days of treatment while other treatments caused marked reductions. Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was significantly reduced (p<0.05) by Al, Cu and Zn toxicity and ceased completely in plants treated with Cu by the 6th day of treatment. Dry biomass and relative growth rate were reduced significantly (p<0.05) by metal treatment. Tolerance index of the plant was low for Cu (21.62 and 13.43% at low and high doses, respectively) and moderate for Zn (63.74 and 54.85%) and Al (72.83 and 68.79%). Accumulation of Al, Zn and Cu was threefold at higher doses compared with the lower doses but the bioconcentration factors (BCF) were very low indicating that this plant is not a hyper accumulator of these metals.

Key words: Al, Zn Cu, Tolerance index, Chlorophyll, Growth, Nitrate reductase activity.

PDF of full length paper is available with author (cumebese@yahoo.com)

 

 

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