Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EDTA ASSISTED PHYTOEXTRACTION AND GROWTH OF ZEA MAYS CV. EQ89-7 DURING COPPER TOXICITY

C.E. Umebese, and O. M. Alebiosu

Abstract

Zen mays cv. EQ89-7 was grown in soil contaminated with toxic concentration of copper (500 mg kg-1 soil) and similar soil amended with Ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA), to investigate the impact on growth, tolerance index (TI) and copper accumulation by different organs (leaves, stems and roots) of the plant. Plants subjected to copper contaminated soil had significantly reduced (p = 0.05) plant height, leaf area, root and shoot biomass. Morphologically, they appeared stunted in growth, had poor root development, chlorotic leaves with signs of wilting. EDTA treatment slightly improved plant growth but enhanced the TI (39.47 %) significantly, at 5 weeks after sowing under Cu toxicity. Roots accumulated the highest concentration of Cu followed by the stem and the leaves. EDTA enhanced Cu accumulation by the roots significantly (p = 0.05) and increased whole plant Cu content by 61 %.