Estimating genetic potential of biofuel forest hardwoods to withstand metal toxicity in industrial effluent under dry tropical conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Biofuel tree species are recognized as a promising alternative source of fuel to conventional forms. Additionally, these 9544 S.A. Manzoor et al. ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (3): 9543-9554 (2015) tree species are also effective in accumulating toxic heavy metals present in some industrial effluents. In developing countries such as Pakistan, the use of biofuel tree species is gaining popularity not only for harvesting economical and environmentally friendly biofuel, but also to sequester poisonous heavy metals from industrial wastewater. This study was aimed at evaluating the genetic potential of two biofuel species, namely, Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata, to grow when irrigated with industrial effluent from the Pak-Arab Fertilizer Factory Multan, Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The growth performances of oneyear-old seedlings of both species were compared in soil with adverse physiochemical properties. It was found that J. curcas was better able to withstand the toxicity of the heavy metals present in the fertilizer factory effluent. J. curcas showed maximum gain in height, diameter, and biomass production in soil irrigated with 75% concentrated industrial effluent. In contrast, P. pinnata showed a significant reduction in growth in soil irrigated with more than 50% concentrated industrial effluent, indicating that this species is less tolerant to higher toxicity levels of industrial effluent. This study identifies J. curcas as a promising biofuel tree species that can be grown using industrial wastewater.

Tannery Effluent Induced Morpho-Biochemical Expressions and Chromium Accumulation in Jatropha curcas L. and Pongamia pinnata L.

“…8.0 ± 0.09 a 1.9 ± 0.03 a 5.0 ± 0.01 a 110 ± 0.00 a 0.43 ± 0.00 a 0.76 ± 0.01 a 8.4 ± 0.2 b 2.8 ± 0.02 b 9.0 ± 0.12 b 150 ± 0.00 b 0.52 ± 0.00 b 0.94 ± 0.00 b 8.8 ± 0.04 c 3.4± 0.09 c 9.9 ± 0.9 c 190 ± 1.18 c 0.79 ± 0.01 c 1.02 ± 0.03 c available potassium by 36% and 73% than its control. The observed change in the available amount of phosphorus, potassium and organic matter contents in soil corresponded with higher levels of phosphorus and potassium in the industrial effluent and are in close conformity with Manzoor et al (2015) and Shah et al (2010). Soil organic matter is an indicative of soil fertility.…”

“…Thus, the trait seemed to be insensitive to effluent treatments ( Figure 2(c)). No significant change in collar diameter in response to other industrial effluent was reported by Manzoor et al (2015) in J. curcas and P. pinnata. The two species exhibited differential responses for leaf area for which 49% expansion was found in J. curcas at 20 mL L -1 as compared to 40 mL L -1 .…”

“…However, J. curcas showed 42% enhancement in root length at 20 mL L -1 relative to 40 mL L -I (Figure 2(a)). Manzoor et al (2015) also provided evidences that more dilutions of the effluents consequently result in reduced concentrations of many harmful substances, including heavy metals. The impact of the application of diluted effluent also resulted in better root growth of J. curcas though Cr is not an essential metal for plant growth, but different species respond to it in a dose dependent pattern.…”

“…Among biofuel tree species, Jatropha curcas L. and Pongamia pinnata L. have recently gained considerable attention as potential bioremediators (Manzoor et al 2015). Both species are common flora of Pakistan grown on roadsides as shelter belts and planted for shade in public parks.…”

Untitled

“…The global market for chemical fertilizers is expected to be 151.8 billion USD and major investments for their production have been done in Pakistan. Despite substantial earnings by this sector, all production units are major contributors of various types of contaminants that are thrown into the environment without following EPA standards (Abid et al 2019;Manzoor et al 2015). Almost all industrial effluents are heavily loaded with several contaminants having high biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solid (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS) and heavy metals (Younas et al 2017) like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) which are of serious concern (Ronzan et al 2017).…”