Basic Science Sector

Citation:

Hegazy, A. K., M. H. Emam, and A. A. Alatar, "Growth and Reproductive Attributes of Radionuclide Phytoremediators in the Mediterranean Coastal Black Sands", African Journal of Biotechnology, 2011.

Abstract:

Growth and resource allocation of three black sand plants namely Cakilemaritima, Senecioglaucusand Rumexpictus were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. The effect of absorbed radionuclideson the plant growth was monitored at different growth stages including seedling, juvenile, flowering,fruiting and senescing stages. The study reveals that growth attributes including relative growth rate,net assimilation rate, leaf are index and specific leaf area, dry matter allocated to stem and leaves andnumber of reproductive organs decreased with the increase of radionuclide content of the plant, whilethe dry matter allocated to root and reproductive organs and root to shoot weight ratio were associatedwith high level of radionuclides. Because of their tolerance to high levels and accumulation ofradionuclides, the species C. maritima, S. glaucus and R. pictus could be potential candidate plants forradio-phytoremediation of soils contaminated with uranium and thorium.

Notes:

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