The growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Ife Brown (Leguminosae) in a cement site rich in heavy metals.
Seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Ife Brown sown in the site at close proximity to a cement factory (polluted), produced sprawling plants with their life span shortened by 28 days, a low pod yield, few and small sized seeds. The time of flower initiation, pod formation to pod ripening was markedly reduced. These plants accumulated a significantly high (17.01 micromol mol(-1)) concentration of aluminium (a constituent of cement) in the leaves and copper (13.68 micromol mol(-1)) in the seeds. Furthermore, the plants showed a low uptake of iron (a prominent constituent of cement) from the iron-rich polluted site. The heavy metals present in cement dust also induced a deficiency in phosphorus, magnesium and ammonia; and synergistically attracted the presence of other heavy metals such as zinc, copper, lead, nickel, chromium, silver and cadmium in significantly high quantities (p = 0.05).
Ade-Ademilua
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OE
Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Umebese
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D003252:Construction Materials; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009549:Nigeria; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants