Does low uranium concentration generates phytotoxic symptoms in Pisum sativum L. in nutrient medium?

Tawussi, Frank; Walther, Clemens; Gupta, DharmendraK.

Does low uranium concentration generates phytotoxic symptoms in Pisum sativum L. in nutrient medium?

2017

Tawussi, Frank | Walther, Clemens | Gupta, DharmendraK.

Due to excessive mining and use of radionuclide especially uranium (U) and its fission products, numerous health hazards as well as environmental contamination worldwide have been created. The present study focused on demonstrating whether low concentration of U treatment in liquid nutient medium may translocate traces of U in plants and in fruits of Pisum sativum after 30 and 60 days of exposure for the safe use as a food supplement for human/animals. Hydroponically grown plants (in amended Hoagland medium) were treated with two different concentrations of uranium ([U] = 100 and 500 nM, respectively). Plants showed a decrease in total chlorophyll after 60 days of treatment. On the other hand, Eh of the nutrient medium was not affected from the initial days till 60 days of treatment, but pH of nutrient medium was increased upon durations, highest at 60 days of treatment. In seeds, micro/macro elements were under limit as well as U concentration was also under detection limit. We did not observe any U in the above ground parts (shoots/seeds) of the plant, i.e., under detection limit. Our observation suggests that P. sativum plants may be useful to grow at low radionuclide [U]-contaminated areas for safe human/animal use, but for other fission products, we have to investigate further for the safe human/animal use.

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