Investigating the potential of axonopus compressus to phytoremediate molybdenum

• Main Author: Eng, Zhi Xian
• Other Authors: Tan Swee Ngin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/60268
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Chronic exposure to molybdenum (Mo), caused by increasing pollution from anthropogenic sources, have been found to have impact on human health. Phytoremediation could be a potential method to remove these Mo pollution from soil. However, few Mo hyperaccumulators, especially tropical species, have been identified. Thus, the aims of this project are to screen for potential Mo tropical hyperaccumulators and based on the preliminary screening exercise, the uptake of Mo by Axonopus compressus (AC) was systematically investigated in tropical greenhouse. From the screening exercise, Acacia mangium, Imperata cylindrica, Chrysopogon aciculatus and AC contained several folds more Mo than other typical plants. AC were spiked with 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 100 and 200 ppm Mo and the accumulation of Mo in the shoots was monitored. Mo accumulation in dry tissue of AC peaked in Week 1 and gradually decreased with time. Control AC and pots spiked with more than 20 ppm exhibited stunted growth two weeks after treatment. Health of AC gradually recovered within 5 weeks post-treatment. Nitrogen (N) content in AC was similar each week and increased over time. Results from this study would be useful for future study of tropical Mo accumulators and provide insights that AC is a good Mo accumulator.