Abstract
This study aimed to assess the effect of petroleum-contaminated and bioremediated soils on germination, growth and anatomical structure of Allophylus edulis. We tested oil-contaminated soil, bioremediated soil and non-contaminated soil. We evaluated germination percentage, germination speed index (GSI), biomass and length of roots and shoots, total biomass, root and hypocotyl diameter, thickness of eophylls and cotyledons, leaf area, eophyll stomatal index and seedling anatomy. Germination percentage, GSI, biomass and leaf area did not differ between treatments after 30 days. Root biomass and plant height were lower in the noncontaminated treatment. Root biomass and leaf area differed between treatments after 60 days. Thickness of cotyledons was higher in bioremediated soil than in other treatments. Root and eophyll structure showed little variation in contaminated soil. We conclude that A. edulis was not affected by petroleum in contaminated and bioremediated soils and that this species has potential for phytoremediation.
Key words:
hydrocarbons; seedling; germination; biomass; anatomy