EFFECT OF SEVEN-UP BOTTLING COMPANY EFFLUENT ON THE GROWTH OF Pistia stratiotes L.

ABSTRACT

The effect of Seven-Up factory effluent on the growth parameters of Pistia stratiotes was investigated. This research was carried out on the premises of the department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin.  The plant was exposed to different concentrations (0%, 25%, 50%, 100%) of the effluent. Industrial effluent collected for this study were diluted with various volumes of tap water to make up to 25%, 50% and 100% concentration of effluent. The study showed that the Seven-Up effluent affected the growth parameters of Pistia stratiotes negatively at higher concentrations. The results showed a progressive reduction in the number of leaves of Pistia stratiotes as effluent concentration increased from 0% to 100%, but there was a steady increase in leaf number at 25% concentrations and the control of 0% concentration. There was a significant increase in leaf area across all concentrations except at 100% concentration of the Seven-Up industrial effluent where little to no increase was observed across all replicates. It is concluded that the higher concentration of released industrial effluent caused various types of inhibitory effects on the plant growth. Furthermore, the visible significant changes observed in Pistia stratiotes grown in water contaminated with industrial effluent could be employed as an index of monitoring environmental pollution.