title: Phytodegradation potential of Erythrina crista-galli L., Fabaceae, in petroleum-contaminated soil.
abstract: This work aimed at investigating both the tolerance and the phytodegradation potential of Erythrina crista-galli L. in petroleum-contaminated soil. It consisted in analyzing E. crista-galli germination, surviving, growth, and development when cultivated at different contaminant concentrations and pollutant degradation rates. This specimen was selected because it presented a special behavior among others also exposed to petroleum in an accident that occurred in the Araucaria region (south of Brazil), resulting in a four-million-liter oil spill. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse containing non-contaminated soil (NCS), vegetated contaminated soil (VCS), and non-vegetated contaminated soil (NVCS) at the following petroleum concentrations: 25 g kg(-1) (VCS-25), 50 g kg(-1) (VCS-50), and 75 g kg(-1) (VCS-75). After 60 days, the soil samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. Germination was more and more evident as higher petroleum concentrations were observed. The surviving rates of groups NCS, VCS-25, VCS-50, and VCS-75 were 64%, 70%, 61%, and 96%, respectively. The VCS group growth was reduced when compared to the control group (NCS). The individuals exposed to petroleum pollution presented differences in the anatomic structure of their roots when compared to the NCS group. It was observed that the petroleum degradation rate was higher for VCS group than for NVCS. E. crista-galli is potentially recommended for petroleum-contaminated soils because of its positive association in the presence of contamination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Science, Universidade Positivo, Prof. Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza Street, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Farias
authors.forename: Leila Teresinha
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Maranho
authors.forename: Eliane Carvalho
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: de Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: da Silva Carvalho Filho
authors.forename: Luiz Gustavo
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Jayme Augusto Menegassi
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Carlos Ricardo
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Soccol
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004895:Erythrina / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D010578:Petroleum; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants