Impacts of Simulated Acid Rain on Selected Physiological Parameters and Nutrient Value of Celosia argentea L.
Odjegba V.J. and I.G. Adepoju
Department of Botany, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos
Abstract
Pot experiment was conducted to assess the effects of Simulated Acid Rain (SAR) on Celosia argentea. Seedlings were raised from seeds and 3 weeks old plants of relatively equal height (12 cm) were transplanted, one plant per pot, into plastic pots containing loamy soil. A total of 36 pots were grouped into 2 to represent treatment and control. Plants were allowed to acclimatize for 1 week before treatment was applied. Seedlings were hand sprayed foliarly with 100 ml SAR (H2SO4 solution) at pH 4.5 and a control level of pH 6.8 every 2 days for 3 weeks. It was observed that SAR significantly (p < 0.05) reduced whole plant biomass; relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll, mineral nutrients, carbohydrate and protein contents, but increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. It was revealed that SAR induced oxidative stress and adversely affected the nutrient value of C. argentea.