Phytoremediation potential of Centella asiatica (gotu kola) in nickel ore-contaminated soils | JBES 2018

Map showing the operating nickel mining sites in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, Philippines.

Author Information

Genelyn G. Madjos from the Institute of the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City, Philippines

Journal Name

Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES

Abstract

Nickel miningposed a serious environmental problem due to run-offs and tailings. To address this, current techniques include excavation, chemical stabilization and soil flushing, but these methods are costly and impractical. One of the ecologically accepted treatments is phytoremediation. With the capacity of Centella asiatica (gotu kola) to thrive in moist soils with domestic effluents, this present study sought to evaluate its phytoremediation potential by employing an experimental design with three replicates of: (a) nickel-rich bio-ore soils from the mining site in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur as treatment substrates; and (b) natural background soils from Iligan City as the control substrate). Phytoremediation potential of C.  asiatica was assessed through relative plant growth, bioaccumulation capacity through Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), contamination factor (CF) computationand tolerance-accumulating mechanism through SHAPE software tool which evaluates shape variations based on elliptic Fourier descriptors. Results reveal relative growth values close to 1 which means that they have the potential to survive in nickel-contaminated condition. AAS results show a greater decrease in soil nickel content and a bigger increase in nickel accumulation in the plant samples in the nickel-ore contaminated soils than in the background (control soils). Contamination factor values indicate that soil and plant samples have very high contamination factor (6 < CF). SHAPE analysis between the control and treatment set-up shows no variations (p= 0.155) in the leaf shape of C. asiatica which indicates its tolerance-accumulating mechanism. These concerted results suggest that C. asiatica may exhibit phytoremediation potential in nickel-ore contaminated soils.

Introduction

Nickel contamination is a very important environmental problem though, the fact remains that it is extremely difficult to remediate the heavy-metal contaminated soils. Current techniques used to remediate heavy-metal contaminated soils include excavation, chemical stabilization, soil washing or soil flushing, but these methods are costly and impractical (Mehes-Smith et al., 2013). Phytoremediation is an ecologically acceptable process and cost-effective use of hyper-accumulator plants to remediate contaminated soils (Lone et al., 2008; Sharma et al., 2013). Centella asiatica (gotu kola) is a small, herbaceous plant usually seen in shady and moist areas and can even thrive abundantly in canals with domestic effluence. 

In the context of phytoremediation, it was reported to be accumulate copper, lead, and zinc in contaminated media (Yap et al., 2010; Mokhtar et al., 2011a,b;Bahnika&Baruah 2014;). This, however, is still a less studied plant in the field of phytoremediation, especially in the case of nickel. Carrascal nickel mining sites in Surigaodel Sur, Mindanao, Philippines is one of the worlds’ largest producers of nickel (US Geological Survey, 2015). Current mining operations are all conducted above ground however; reported nickel mobility includes erosion and run-offs through river systems, estuaries and finally oceans, the ultimate sink. 

It can also enter groundwater supplies by leaching through the soil column. Soils in agricultural areas are becoming inappropriate for sustainable agriculture due to siltation which leads to phytotoxicity (NSCEP-EPA, 1990). With this present condition, this study sought to evaluate the possibility of using Centella asiatica (gotukola) for phyto-remediating nickel-rich bio-ore contaminated soils though an experimental design. Check out more Phytoremediation potential of Centella asiatica (gotu kola) in nickel ore-contaminated soils

Reference

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Induced mutagenesis in Green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) | JBES 2023

Amino acid bands scanned at 500 nm in (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek).

 Authors

• V. Prabakaran and P. Manivel from the institute of the Research Scholar, PG and Research Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Trichy), Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Tamil Nadu, India

•  S. Parvathi and S. Palanivel from the institute of the PG and Research Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, Karur, Tamil Nadu, India

Journal Name

Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES

Abstract

Induced mutagenesis was carried out in an important protein rich pulse crop (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). The seeds of green gram variety Co-6 were treated with different concentrations of sodium azide. The mutagen treated seeds were sown in the field to observe M1 characteristics. The sodium azide treated seeds were subjected to amino acid analysis. Totally 19 amino acids were recorded in control and sodium azide treated samples. In the process of sodium azide treatments a few amino acids were increased and some amino acids were decreased than control. The M1 parameters such as germination and survival percentage, plant height, days taken for flowering, number of pods/plant, length of pods, number of seeds/pod and hundred seeds weight were decreased with increasing concentrations sodium azide and all the growth parameters showed negative trend when compared to control. The M1 seeds were collected separately based on concentrations of sodium azide and stored for raising next generation after the harvest. The M1 seeds were sown in the field to raise M2 generation, and in M2 population, the different types of chlorophyll and viable mutants were noticed, such as chlorina, xantha, viridis, and viable mutants such as tall, dwarf, leaf, pod and early flowering mutants were noticed in various treatments of sodium azide. In addition with chlorophyll and viable mutants several initial leaflet modifications like trifoliate, tetrafoliate and pentafoliate leaflets had been observed in mutagenic treatment with sodium azide. The present study is a basis for evolving mutant varieties in green gram with altered agronomic traits.

Introduction

Green gram or mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is one of the most important pulse crops in India and cultivated in different parts of the world. Protein rich edible seeds, sprouts rich in vitamins and amino acids are used directly and apart from this the crop is widely used as forage. However, the productivity and quality of the grain is severely reduced due to different stress factors in general. Despite its great economic importance a little information regarding its degree of stress tolerance is available through conventional studies, although yield losses are considerable when subjected to different stress conditions (Kaviraj et al., 2006). 

Different types of chlorophyll mutants observed in M2 generation.

a, b, c- Albino, d, e, f- Xanthag, h, i- Chlorino and j, k, l, m, n, o- Viridis

Several biotic and abiotic factors as well as low genetic variability are supposed to be responsible for lowering the production of this important crop. During different stages of growing seasons, the loss exceed more than 50% due to incidence of many pests and diseases (Poehlman et al., 1991).

Induced mutagenesis is one of the traditional breeding methods in plant breeding. It is related with various fields like, morphology, cytogenetic, biotechnology and molecular biology etc. (Acharya et al., 2006). Induced mutations are highly effective in enhancing natural genetic resources and have been used in developing improved cultivars of cereals, fruits and other crops (Lee et al., 2002). These mutations provide beneficial variations for practical plant breeding purpose. In the past seven decades, more thousands of mutant varieties have been officially released in the world (Maluszynski et al., 2000).

 Sodium azide (SA-NaN3) is an ionic compound and its mutagenicity is interceded through a natural metabolite (undifferentiated from L-azidoalanine) of the azide compound produced by Oacetylserinesulfhydrylase catalyst (Gruszka et al., 2012). It is a chemical mutagen and it’s one of the most useful mutagens in crop plants. The mutagenesis is mediated through the production of an organic metabolic of azide compound. This metabolic enters into the nucleus, interacts to DNA and creates point mutation in the genome. Several factors influenced the effect of mutagens such as properties of mutagens, duration of treatment, pH, pre and post treatment, temperature and oxygen concentrations etc. (Gehan et al., 2011).

The mutant plants formed by the application of sodium azide are able to withstand a range of unfavorable conditions and have enhanced yields, improved stress tolerance, longer shelf life and reduced agronomic input in comparison to a normal plant (Ahloowalia et al., 2002). 

Different types of leaflet modifications

observed in M2 generation on (Vigna radiata (L.)

Wilczek) a. Normal trifoliate leaflet b. Tetra foliate c.

Penta foliate, d-h. Variations in leaf modification.

Like this, several authors carried out induced mutagenic studies in [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] using physical and chemical mutagenic agents. (Wani et al., 2017; Deswanjee et al., 2018; Sofia et al., 2020; Das et al., 2020; Amol et al., 2021).

The production of new cultivar with enhanced amount of nutrients, tolerance to drought and salinity is still needed for this important legume crop. The main objective of the present part of the research work is to find out the effect of sodium azide on M1 and M2 generation of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]. It is useful to carry out mutation breeding studies to obtain mutant varieties. Check out more Induced mutagenesis in Green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

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