Effects of Distillery Effluent on Physiologiccal and Biochemical Parameters of Tomato Solanum lycopersicum L and Capsicum Capsicum annuum L of Solan HP and ex situ Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil

Abstract

x newlineABSTRACT newlineThis study attempted to assess the impact of distillery effluent on various morphological and biochemical parameters of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.). It was observed that the effluent was acidic in nature and all the parameters viz. pH (5.56), electrical conductivity (4.23 mScm-1), total suspended solids (1715.3 mg/L), total dissolved solids (2434.6 mg/L), biological oxygen demand (790.1 mg/L), chemical oxygen demand (2489.6 mg/L) were much higher. The minerals were found above the permitted limits for disposal of effluent i.e. sodium (712 mg/L), potassium (982.3 mg/L), calcium (639.6mg/L), manganese (372mg/L) and chlorides (2351.3 mg/L). The effluent also had a significant effect on the soil properties. It decreased the pH, moisture content, water holding capacity, whereas electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were increased over the control. The study revealed that the maximum values of positive germination viz. speed of germination (1.86) and (2.2), peak value (3) and (3.3), percentage germination (90) and (100) were at 25 percent effluent concentration in the case of tomato and capsicum, respectively. The 100 percent effluent showed no growth of the seeds. The maximum values of morphological parameters viz. shoot length, root length, number of leaves, leaf area, dry and fresh weight of shoot and root were also observed at 25% effluent concentration. In case of biochemical parameters, a steady decline was observed in the chlorophyll and protein content with the increase in effluent concentration. SOD and catalase activity were found maximum at 75% effluent concentration. newlineThe present study also revealed the presence of six heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Mg and Cr) in the distillery effluent contaminated soil. All the heavy metals were found above the permissible limits, i.e. Pb (189.02 mg/kg), Cd (5.59 mg/kg), Zn (590 mg/kg), Cu (1065.27 mg/kg), Mg (409 mg/kg) and Cr (196.20 mg/kg). The four bacterial isolates were selected based on the heavy metal tolerance and antibiotic resistances. These strains were characterized and identified on the basis of 16S rRNA sequencing as Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus cereus. These isolates were examined for their heavy metal uptake capacity and found that the isolates had potential for metal uptake. Ex-situ bioremediation was carried out using microbial consortium of four selected isolates. The results revealed that the highest percentage of newlinexi newlinedegradation was observed in T3 treatment, i.e. bacterial consortium amended with nutrients. newlineKey words: Distillery effluent, Solanum lycopersicum L., Capsicum annuum L., heavy metals, 16S rRNA sequencing, ex-situ bioremediation newline