Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia
EEB
Hard copy: ISSN 1691–8088
On-line: ISSN 2255–9582
Env Exp Biol (2013) 11: 131–136
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Environmental and
Experimental
Biology

Env Exp Biol (2013) 11: 131–136

Original Article

Root-shoot partitioning of copper, chromium and zinc in Lycopersicon esculentum and Amaranthus hybridus grown in cement-polluted soil

Clement Oluseye Ogunkunle1*, Paul Ojo Fatoba1, Olusegun Olufemi Awotoye2, Kehinde Stephen Olorunmaiye1
1Department of Plant Biology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
2Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
*Corresponding author, E-mail: ogunkunle.co@unilorin.edu.ng

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) were grown on cement-polluted soil in a greenhouse under ambient conditions and natural photoperiod. Plants were harvested two months after planting and their roots and above ground parts were cleaned and separated. Heavy metals (Cu, Zn and Cr) in roots, shoots and soil samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. There was no significant difference in total accumulation of Cu and Zn in biomass between the two vegetables. However, significant differences in their partitioning were observed. Both vegetables exhibited large transfer of Cu and Zn from soil to roots, but translocation of Cu to above-ground parts was significantly reduced for both species. Translocation of Zn to above-ground parts in amaranth plants was relatively high, but it was restricted in tomato. Cr uptake was significantly restricted within roots of tomato whereas roots of amaranth did not accumulate Cr. These findings showed that both tomato and amaranth have a potential to absorb excessive Cu and Zn into roots, but tranlocation of Cu to above-ground parts occurred only in amaranth.

Key words: amaranth, bioaccumulation, heavy metals, soil pollution, tomato, transfer factor, translocation index.

 
Env Exp Biol (2013) 11: 131–136
 DOI: http://doi.org/10.22364/eeb
EEB

Editor-in-Chief
Prof. Gederts Ievinsh
Published by
University of Latvia

 
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