ABSTRACT

The concentrations of waste engine oil increase in our environment from year to year. Different kinds of plants respond to concentration of contaminants differently, because of the diversity of physiological and morphological characteristics. The experiment was conducted in an experimental farm behind the mushroom house of the Department of plant Science and Biotechnology, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, in Abia State. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design, (CRD) with three (3) replicates and a total of five (5) treatments. In this study, the effect of different concentrations of spent engine oil was investigated on the anatomy of leaf, stem and root of two different grasses, E. indica and A. compressus. The soil was contaminated with different concentrations of waste engine oil at 2%, 4%, 7% and 10.0% v/w, (volume/weight), with untreated soil (0.0%) as the control. In this study the effect of different concentrations of spent engine oil was investigated on anatomy of the leaf, stem and root of the grasses. In E. indica and A.cpmpressus leaf with 0% concentration result showed that there were stomata present and have straight epidermal cell walls, while from 2% - 10% concentrations showed sinuosity and distortion of the epidermal cells of the leaves. Their stems at 0% concentration showed normal arrangement of the vascular bundles, large parenchyma cells and intercellular air spaces, but from 2%-10% showed distortion and clogging of the vascular bundles and damage of other tissues like the pith, parenchyma was the most noticeable effect on the contaminant had on the stem anatomy of the crops. Their roots at 0% concentration showed normal parenchyma cells of the pith, while from 2%- 10%, it showed breakdown of cells and tissues. In conclusion, waste engine oil pollution affects the anatomy of E. indica and A. compressus, grown on different concentration of this pollutant, the stomata, vascular bundles, parenchyma cells and intercellular air spaces were also affected on the stems of this grasses and breakdown of tissue and parenchyma cells were also affected at 2%, 4%, 7% and 10% concentration of waste engine oil.

TABLE OF CONTENT Pages

Title Page                                                                                                                                  I 

Certification   II

Declaration III

Dedication IV

Acknowledgement V

Table of Contents VI

List of Figures VII

List of Plates VIII

Abstract X

CHAPTER 1                                                                                                             1

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background Information 1

1.2 Effect of Spent Engine Oil On Plant 3

1.3 Justification of the study 5

1.4 Objective of the study 5

CHAPTER 2 6

LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.1 OVERVIEW OF PHYTOREMEDIATION 6

2.2 Mechanisms of Phytoremediation

2.2.1 Rhizofiltration 7

2.2.2 Phytostabilization 8

2.2.3 Phytovolatilization 8

2.2.4 Phytodegradation 9

2.2.5 Phytoextraction 9

2.3 Advantages of phytoremediation 9

2.3.1 Direct Benefits of Phytoremediation 9

2.3.2 Indirect Benefits of Phytoremediation 10

2.4 Limitations of Phytoremediation 11

2.4.1 Heavy metal toxicity 12

2.5 Application of plants for phytoremediation 14

2.6 Examples of plants used in phytoremediation 15

2.7 Plant Characteristics 15

2.7.1 Eleusine Indica 15

2.7.2 Description 17

2.7.3 Distribution 17

2.7.4 Botany of Plant (E. indica). 17

2.7.5 Economic importance and uses 18

2.7.6 Edible Uses 18

2.7.7 Medicinal uses 18

2.7.8 Agroforestry uses 19

2.8 Axonopus compressus 19

2.8.1 Scientific classification 19

2.8.2 Description 20 

2.8.3 Distribution 20

2.8.4 Botany 21

2.8.4 Habitat 21

2.8.6 Uses/ Economic Important 22

2.8.6.1 Medicinal Uses 22

2.8.6.2 Agroforestry Uses 22

CHAPTER 3 24

MATERIALS AND METHODS 24

3.1 Study Area 24

3.2 Experimental Design 24

3.3 Collection of Soil and plants Sample. 24

3.4 Collection of oil sample 24

3.5 Soil Treatment 25

3.6 Anatomical Studies. 25

3.7 Epidermal Peels. 26

3.8 Photomicrographs. 26 

CHAPTER 4 27

RESULTS 27

4.1 Effect of Different Percentage of Waste Engine Oil Pollution On the Anatomy of Leaf, Stem and Root of Grasses. 27

CHAPTER 5 39

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.2 CONCLUSION 41

5.2 RECOMMENDATION 41

REFERENCE