Author(s):
1. Fidelis Ifeakachuku Achuba:
Department of Biochemistry, Delta State University,P.M.B. 1, Abraka,
Abstract:
The damaging potency of hydrocarbons on natural and cultivated crops in petroleum-producing areas of the world is voraciously documented. This research investigated the noxiousness of hydrocarbons on aerobic and anaerobic enzymes using seedlings of cowpea and maize as a model. Viable seeds of these food crops were planted in soil treated with different concentrations of various hydrocarbons. Each group was prepared five times and six groups were constituted. The setup was watered daily. After growth periods, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the seedlings were determined using standard methods at four days interval up to twelve days after planting. The data produced was subjected to analysis of variance for comparisons. The presence of the various hydrocarbons in soil significantly (P<0.01) and reciprocally altered the activities of the respiratory enzymes in the leaves of the seedlings: decreased succinate dehydrogenase activity but increased activity of lactate dehydrogenase. Kerosene polluted soil was more potent than the other hydrocarbons investigated. It is evident from the study that hydrocarbons in soil predispose plants to anaerobic energy production, as a way of energy generation, to enable them to survive hydrocarbon toxicity.
Page(s):
37-42
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences: B. Life and Environmental Sciences, Volume: 57, Issue: 1, Year: 2020
Keywords:
Soil
,
cowpea
,
enzymes
,
Maize
,
hydrocarbons
References:
References are not available for this document.
Citations
Citations are not available for this document.