Rose Saraah Visitacion, Josefina De Jesus, Glenn Sia Su and Elena Ragragio, 2011.

GerminationISSN Seedling and 2088-3218 Growth Responses of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and Spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) at Varying Lead Concentrations. Volume 1, Number 2: 139-142, August, 2011 T2011 Department of Environmental Engineering Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Surabaya & Indonesian Society of Sanitary and Environmental Engineers, Jakarta Open Access http://www.trisanita.org/jates
International peer-reviewed journal

International peer-reviewed journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Original Report

GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH RESPONSES OF WATER SPINACH (IPOMOEA AQUATICA) AND SPINACH (SPINACIA OLERACEAE) AT VARYING LEAD CONCENTRATIONS
ROSE SARAAH VISITACION1, JOSEFINA DE JESUS1, GLENN SIA SU2* and ELENA RAGRAGIO2
1Biology Department, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines. 2Biology Department, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
*Corresponding Author: Phone/Fax: +63-2-536-0228; E-mail: glss76@yahoo.com Received: 25th May 2011; Revised: 6th June 2011; Accepted: 8th June 2011

Abstract: The germination and seedling growth responses of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) were assessed in varying concentrations of PbNO3. Germination of both water spinach and spinach was significantly affected by the increasing PbNO3 concentrations. Root length and shoot length of both the water spinach and spinach were inhibited by the high PbNO3 concentrations as compared to those containing low PbNO3 concentrations and control treatment.
Keywords: Heavy metal, spinach, water spinach, germination, seedling growth

INTRODUCTION Anthropogenic activities provides numerous benefits to society but have contributed significantly to the generation of large amounts of heavy metals in the environment. Lead is an important heavy metal that is known to be highly toxic. It is a prevalent issue nowadays, considering that this pollutant constantly increases in the environment. This metal is like any other heavy metal that may persist in the environment for long periods of time posing as pressures on the integrity of the environment and on the general publics health. Though heavy metals existence in the environment poses as a threat to the environment and to human health, some of these heavy metals are essential micronutrients for the plants growth and survival. However, exposures to large amounts of heavy metals may result to damages and growth inhibition of most plant species [1]. Most plant species expose to heavy metals may show different responses towards their exposure. Some plants may act as hyperaccumulators of metals and may either be tolerant or sensitive to the heavy metals [2]. While other plant species may exhibit inhibition of germination and plant growth [3] and reduce crop yield [4]. Plant 139
Journal of Applied Technology in Environmental Sanitation, 1 (2): 139-142.

Rose Saraah Visitacion, Josefina De Jesus, Glenn Sia Su and Elena Ragragio, 2011. Germination and Seedling Growth Responses of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and Spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) at Varying Lead Concentrations.

exposures to heavy metals may likewise have significant effects on shoot lengths, root lengths and seedling dry biomass [5]. Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) are important market vegetables in many Southeast Asian countries, where both crops are extensively cultivated. Both vegetables are excellent sources of nutrients and are used for phytoremediation. There are studies that indicate that both water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) act as good metal and toxin accumulators [6, 7]. However, there is little information provided on the effects of these heavy metals particularly lead on the seed germination and seedling growth among plants that are used for phytoremediation like water spinach and spinach. The present study aims to investigate the germination and seedling growth responses of plants that are used as hyperaccumulators of metals and toxins like water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) to varying lead concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seeds of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) were obtained from a local store where seeds are sterilized and vacuum packed in packets. Seeds were surface sterilized prior to the experiment. PbNO3 solutions were prepared at different concentrations (0.01M, 0.001M, 0.0001M and 0.00001M). The control solution contains distilled water. Twenty (20) seeds for each plant species were placed and grown in Petri dishes lined with filter paper. The seeds were irrigated with the test solutions and distilled water. This experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design and each block contained three replicates for each metal concentration. The Petri dishes were aerated during the course of seedling development. Seedlings were allowed to grow for 7 days then they were taken out from the solutions and washed carefully. The number of seeds germinated in each treatment was counted on 7 days after sowing and the germination percentage was calculated. The root and shoot length of seedlings in various lead concentrations were measured each day for each germinating seed. The germination and seedling growth data were statistically analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine the level of significance at P < 0.0.5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION This study investigated the germination, root and shoot lengths of the water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) seeds to varying PbNO3 solutions. Seed germination, root and shoot lengths of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) were highly decreased with the treatment of PbNO3 as compared to the control (Figures 1 and 2). The seed germination of the spinach was likewise affected by the 0.01 to 0.001 mol/L concentrations of PbNO3. The water spinach root and shoot lengths were affected in lead treatments at 0.01 mol/L concentration while the spinach root and shoot lengths were affected in both lead treatments at 0.01 to 0.001 mol/L concentrations. Germination of the Ipomoea aquatica seeds exposed to the PbNO3 solutions at 0.001 mol/L up to 0.00001 mol/L started on the fourth day unlike that of the control that started on the second day. The germination of the Spinacia oleraceae seeds exposed to PbNO3 concentrations of 0.0001 mol/L and 0.00001 mol/L started on the sixth day similar to that of the control treatment. The Analysis of variance indicated a significant (P < 0.0.5) difference on the germination of the seeds on the varying PbNO3 solutions. 140
Journal of Applied Technology in Environmental Sanitation, 1 (2): 139-142.

Rose Saraah Visitacion, Josefina De Jesus, Glenn Sia Su and Elena Ragragio, 2011. Germination and Seedling Growth Responses of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and Spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) at Varying Lead Concentrations.

100 80 60 40 20 0 0.00 mol/L

Seed Germination (%)

100 80 60 40 20 0

Seed Germination (%)

0.01 mol/L

0.001 0.0001 0.00001 mol/L mol/L mol/L Treatment

0.00 mol/L

0.01 mol/L

0.001 0.0001 0.00001 mol/L mol/L mol/L

Treatment 30 20 Root Length (cm)

20 15 10 5 0 0.00 mol/L

Root Length (cm)

10 0 0.01 mol/L 0.001 mol/L 0.0001 0.00001 mol/L mol/L 0.00 mol/L 0.01 0.001 mol/L mol/L Treatment Shoot Length (cm) 0.0001 0.00001 mol/L mol/L

Treatment 40 20 0 0.00 mol/L 0.01 mol/L 0.001 mol/L Treatment 0.0001 0.00001 mol/L mol/L Shoot Length (cm) 3 2 1 0 0.00 mol/L

0.01 mol/L

0.001 mol/L

0.0001 0.00001 mol/L mol/L

Treatment

Fig. 1: Seed germination, root and shoot lengths of Ipomoea aquatica to varying lead concentrations

Fig. 2: Seed germination, root and shoot lengths of Spinacia oleracea to varying lead concentrations

The longest roots were observed at control for both the Ipomoea aquatica and Spinacia oleraceae seeds. No root length was observed among the Ipomoea aquatica seeds grown in 0.01 mol/L of PbNO3 solution. While no root lengths were observed among the Spinacia oleraceae seeds grown in both the 0.01 to 0.001 mol/L of PbNO3 solutions. No shoot length developed in the Ipomoea aquatica seeds exposed to 0;01 mol/L of PbNO3 solutions while in the Spinacia oleraceae, no shoot length was observed in seeds exposed to both the 0.01 to 0.001 mol/L of PbNO3 solutions. Similarly, varying concentrations of the metals had a significant (P < 0.0.5) effect on the root length for both the Ipomoea aquatica and Spinacia oleraceae seeds. The decrease in the germination of the plants exposed to the heavy metal in this study may likely be attributed to the breakdown of the stored food materials in the seeds and the food does not reach the radical and plumule tips. It is also possible that alterations of the selection permeability 141
Journal of Applied Technology in Environmental Sanitation, 1 (2): 139-142.

Rose Saraah Visitacion, Josefina De Jesus, Glenn Sia Su and Elena Ragragio, 2011. Germination and Seedling Growth Responses of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and Spinach (Spinacia oleraceae) at Varying Lead Concentrations.

properties of the seeds coats [8] may have resulted to the decrease in the seeds germination. It is likely that the varying seed germination effects to the heavy metal treatment as observed in this study may be due to the ability of the metal in penetrating the embryo tissues across the plants seed coats. A study [9] indicated that the inhibition of the root growth of the seed may be due to the metal that is absorbed by the embryo tissues of the seed where it experiences a toxic effect on its embryo radical. The reduction in the root and shoot lengths of the seeds to varying metal treatments could have been brought about by the reduction of mitotic cells in the plants meristematic zone [8]. The toxicity of the metals may be great that the plant growth is affected as observed in this study. However, the different responses of the seed germination and the root and shoot lengths towards the varying lead concentrations may likely be because of the plant species themselves and on the physical and chemical property of the metal ions [10]. CONCLUSION Our investigation showed that the germination of both water spinach and spinach was significantly affected by the increasing PbNO3 concentrations. Root length and shoot length of both the water spinach and spinach were inhibited by the high PbNO3 concentrations as compared to those containing low PbNO3 concentrations and control treatment.
Acknowledgments: We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all who have assisted and supported this study. References 1. Kochian, L. 2002. Phytoremediation: Using plants to clean up soils. Agricultural Research Journal, 48(6): 36-40. 2. Chatterjee, J. and Chatterjee C. 2000. Phytotoxicity of cobalt, chromium and copper in cauliflower. Environmental Pollution, 109: 69-74. 3. Shafiq, M. and Iqbal M.Z. 2005. The toxicity effects of heavy metals on germination and seedling growth of Cassia siamea. Lamark. Journal of New Seeds, 7: 95-105. 4. Rashid, P. and Mukhirji S. 1993. Effect of foliar application of lead on the growth and yield parameters of wheat. Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 36: 473-475. 5. Joseph, L.U., Andrea L.C. and Mai T.K. 2002. Effects of lead contamination on the growth of Lythrum salicaria. Environmental Pollution, 120(2): 319-323. 6. Teerakun, M., and Reungsang A. 2005. Determination of plant species for the phytoremediation of carbofuran residue in rice field soils. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology, 27(5): 967-973. 7. Raskin, I. and Ensley B.D. 2000. Phytoremediation of toxic metals: Using plants to clean up the environment. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, USA, pp. 53-70. 8. Muhammad,S., Iqbal M.Z., and Mohammad A. 2008. Effect of lead and cadmium on germination and seedling growth of Leucaena leucocephala. Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Management, 12(2): 61-66. 9. Akinci, I.E., and Akinci S. 2010. Effect of chromium toxicity on germination and early seedling growth in melon (Cucumis melo L.), African Journal of Biotechnology, 9(29): 4589-4594. 10. Seregin, I.V., and Kozhevnikova A.D. 2005. Distribution of cadmium, lead, nickel and strontium in imbibing Maize Caryopses. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, 52(4): 565-569.

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