Remediative Abilities Of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata), Bambara Groundnut (Vigna Subterranean) And Maize (Zea Mays) On Soils Polluted With Lead And Zinc

ABSTRACT

Accessions Tvu 3788 and IT 99K-377-1, Tvsu 102 and Tvsu 1685 and ACR.91SUWANI-SRC1 and

DMR-LSRW of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) and Maize

(Zea mays) respectively were subjected to lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) treatment and screened for their

ability to tolerate these metals. Accessions Tvu 3788, Tvsu 102 and ACR.91SUWANI-SRC1 of

cowpea, bambara groundnut and maize respectively were chosen and used for the experiment. The

toxic effects of lead and zinc on the growth and development and biochemical activities of the three

crop plants were carried out. The genotoxic effect of the heavy metals (Pb) and (Zn) on cowpea,

bambara groundnut and the maize crop was investigated. The potential of cowpea, bambara groundnut

and maize in the remediation of lead and zinc from polluted soils as well as the effects of

Ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and farmyard manure on the remediative abilities of the

crop plants were also investigated. The genetic variability for lead and zinc tolerance by the crop

plants were also determined.

Fresh and dry weights of plants were obtained using a weighing balance and by oven-drying. The

chlorophyll content was determined by spectrophotometry. Genotoxicity was determined by

chromosomal squash technique with lactic acetic orcein stain. The amount of metals contained in

plants’ tissues was determined by Atomic Absorption spectrophotometry. RAPD-PCR analysis for

determining genetic variation of plants was also carried out. One-way ANOVA and student’s t-test

using Microcal origin 5.0 software procedures were carried out on the morphological and biochemical

parameters.

A statistically significant difference (P

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