The effects of exogenous application of hydrogen peroxide on the secondary metabolites, enzyme activities and photosynthetic pigment accumulation of Vigna unguiculata was investigated. The hereby study was carried out under a screen house to minimize extraneous factors. The experiment was laid down in completely randomized design (CRD) with eight replicates. After two weeks of sowing when the seedlings become fully established, the sample pots were divided into two regimes. The first regimes were supplied daily with 500 mL of 0.1 mM of hydrogen peroxide and the second regime was watered daily with tap water. After fifth week of sowing, the leaves of Vigna unguiculata from each regime were randomly selected and harvested. Secondary metabolites, enzyme assay and photosynthetic pigment screening was carried out on the harvested leaves. The impact of hydrogen peroxide on the parameters studied was done using one way analysis of variance. Mean values were separated using Fisher’s LSD at p≤0.05. The results showed that hydrogen peroxide strongly increased the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, carbohydrates and alkaloids. It also induced α-amylase and lipase activities than the control plants and promotes the accumulation and biosynthesis of chlorophylls and carotenoids. In conclusion, hydrogen peroxide could be used as potential molecule to improve some secondary metabolites (flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, carbohydrates and alkaloids), α-amylase and lipase activities and photosynthetic pigments.
An investigation aimed at a better understanding of the normal water requirement for the optimum growth and yield of Solanum lycopersicum was carried out. Seeds of S. lycopersicum were sown in 32 plastic pots and after germination the seedlings were allowed to grow for a period of 2 weeks within which they were well watered and kept under optimum conditions of the environment. The plants were then subjected to different levels of water applications. Plants in the first group (W1) were supplied with 200 ml of water everyday; plants in the second group (W2) were supplied with 200 ml of water once every 3 days; plants in the third group (W3) were supplied with 200 ml of water once in every 5 days while the fourth group (W4) were supplied with 200 ml of water once in every 10 days. The results obtained showed that water stress caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in some of the morphological parameters studied. Some yield parameters were unaffected by the water stress.
Contaminants in the environment occur naturally and/or through anthropogenic activities. These contaminants become a threat to all living organisms because of their increased in the environment and non-biodegradable nature. In order to protect the environment from these contamination, various techniques have been developed, and among them is phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is a technology that employed plant species for reclaiming contaminated soil, air, and water. This technology has been widely accepted in recent times, because of its low cost and environmentally friendly. In addition, augmentation of the contaminated soil, either chemo augmentation or bioaugmentation, have been used for the effective absorption of some of these contaminants. When the plants are grown in the contaminated sites, the contaminant in the soil maybe removed, immobilized, degraded or volatized. These phytoremediation technologies are: phytoextraction, phytovolatilization, rhizofiltration, phyto-stimulation, phyto-stabilization and phytodegradation. Based on the phytoremediation potentials of plants, pollutants are being removed from the environment thereby keeping the environment safe.
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