Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 20: 1131 - 1137. Published August 7, 2009.
Screening of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moenchfor tolerance to spent engine oil
Adenipekun, C.O.*, Oyetunji, O.J. and Kassim, L.Q.
Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
*Corresponding author e-mail: oyinpek@yahoo.comABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effect of different concentrations of spent engine oil on the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants.
Methodology and results: 4.5 kg topsoil was mixed with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 % (w/v) of spent engine oil (SEO). The control was not mixed with SEO (0%). The seeds were sown on these soils and monitored on alternative days. Parameters monitored were chlorophyll and relative water contents of the plats were analyzed after harvest. SEO contamination adversely affected growth and some physiological parameters, depending on concentration. The growth parameters were reduced by higher concentration of the oil. However, 0.2 and 0.4% SEO did not reduce these parameters. The highest relative water content (78.4%) was found in the control plants, followed by those treated with 0.2% spent oil (51.89%), the least being those treated with 0.6% spent oil (1.71%). Chlorophyll contents of okra plants were also negatively reduced by the spent engine oil treatment, highest being recorded in the control plants (0% SEO) and the least were those exposed to 0.4% SEO. The plants grown on treated soil also showed chlorosis and necrosis symptoms at higher oil concentrations (0.6-3.0%).
Conclusion and application of findings: These results indicate that contamination of soil with spent engine oil at very low concentration (0.2%) has no significant (P < 0.05) effect on okra plants growth while the higher concentrations adversely and severely affect plant growth. Indiscriminate spillage of spent engine oil affected okra physiology and growth. Therefore, spent engine oil should be properly disposed.
Key words: Spent engine oil, A. esculentus, growth, chlorophyll content, relative water content
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