Effects of dump site soil on the leaf structures of <i>Luffa cylindrical</i> (sponge gourd) and <i>Amaranthus viridis</i> (green amaranth)

Abstract

Previous researches have shown the presence of heavy metals (HMs) such as lead (Pb) at different levels in Olusosun dumpsite, Lagos. This study aimed at finding out if the anatomical differences found in Luffa cyclindrical and Amaranthus viridis grown on the dumpsite is an indication of the HMs and also determine the distribution of HMs on the dumpsite. The results showed the HMs detected in the dumpsite soil at three spots were significantly higher than the control (p=0.5). The concentrations of HMs were in sequence for soils A: Pb>Zn=Cr>Fe>Cu>Ni. Spot B: Fe>Cr>Pb>Zn>Cu>Ni, spot C: Fe>Pb>Cr>Zn>Cu>Ni and Control: Pb>Fe>Zn>Cu>Ni. All the HMs detected at the three spots and control were below the World Health Organization (WHO) and Dutch pollutant standard level, except for (Zn) which was at the exact limit (50.000Mg/kg). The plants obtained from both the dumpsite and control sites didn't show marked visible morphological changes. However, anatomical changes in the leaves epidermis such as irregular shape of the epidermis, absence of trichomes and decrease in quality and stomata size were all witnessed in the dumpsite plant as against the control. Hence, it is likely that all detected differences in the epidermal structures of the test plant grown on dumpsite soil were caused by the high level of HMs present in the dumpsites and therefore suggested that, changes in epidermal structures of L. cyclindrical and A. viridis grown on Olusosun dumpsite soils is an indication of HMs such as Zn and Pb present.

Growth and phytoremediative capacity of Eleusine indica in a typical farmland soil under previous exposure to organochlorine pesticide

“…Results from this study are in line with those reported by Ikhajiagbe and Anoliefo (2012), who suggested E. indica as a potential species for remediation of hydrocarbon pollution. However, the absence of significant changes in plant morphology even when exposed to organochlorine pesticide polluted soil disagrees with work presented by Ikhajiagbe et al, 2016 andMusa et al, 2019…”

“…Agricultural crops have also been reported to accumulate these pesticides and relay them into food chains and water bodies (Obida et al, 2012), which may likely cause harm to non-target organisms and thereby affect food security. Pesticides have also threatened the survival of less tolerance plant and animal species (Helfrich et al, 2009) causing necrosis and chlorosis of leaf structures (Musa et al, 2019) and human health complications (Lah, 2011).…”

Health risk assessment and heavy metal bioaccumulation in vegetables irrigated with waste water in Kano State, Nigeria

“…Metal Pollution Index (MPI) was computed to analyse the heavy metal concentrations in the wastewater irrigated vegetables. This index obtained using the geometrical mean of concentrations of all the metals in the vegetables as described by (Ureso et al, 1997;Musa et al, 2019) following:…”